Collaborative Research: Testing the Role of Historical Geology and Rivers for Shaping the Distribution of Land Vertebrate Biodiversity in Western Madagascar

该项目将采用复杂的方法对遗传、物种分布和遥感数据进行综合分析，以检查马达加斯加的地质复杂性。拟议的活动将产生新的见解，将地质和地理力量与脊椎动物分布和丰富程度的模式联系起来。马达加斯加已被指定为保护行动中最重要的地理优先事项之一，因为它保留了不到10%的人类殖民前存在的自然栖息地。拟议的工作将作为一个模型，整合不同的科学学科和方法，以了解和保护生物多样性和受威胁的栖息地。该项目非常注重通过教育和培训美国和马达加斯加学生来进行能力建设。美国学生的研究机会将通过马达加斯加/美国合作伙伴关系的形成而增加，其中马达加斯加学生将在马达加斯加担任导师/导游，而在美国则相反。拟议的活动将在美国，即菲尔德自然历史博物馆和马达加斯加建立自然历史收藏。最后，该项目将生产一些供数据查询和分析用的联机电子产品，这些产品将在国际上提供。该奖项由美国国家科学基金会国际科学与工程办公室共同资助。

This project will employ sophisticated methods to conduct a synthetic analysis of genetic, species distribution, and remote-sensing data to examine the geological complexity of Madagascar. The proposed activities will yield novel insights that will connect geological and geographic forces to patterns of vertebrate distribution and abundance. Madagascar has been designated as one of the most critical geographic priorities for conservation action as it retains less than 10% of the natural habitats that existed before human colonization. The proposed work will serve as a model for integrating diverse scientific disciplines and methods for understanding and conserving biodiverse and threatened habitats. The project has a significant focus on capacity-building through the education and training of both American and Malagasy students. Research opportunities for American students will be enhanced by the formation of Malagasy/American partnerships wherein Malagasy students will serve as mentor/guides while in Madagascar, with the converse being true in the U.S. The proposed activities will build natural history collections both in the U.S., namely at the Field Museum of Natural History, and in Madagascar. Finally, the project will produce a number of online electronic products for data query and analysis that will be internationally available. This award is co-fund by NSF's Office of International Science and Engineering.