Masoala Madagascar National Park Rainforest

Tropical Rainforest of Madagascar

In Summary...

The beautiful landscape, unique prosimian population and rustic appeal make Masoala National Park the preeminent choice for your eco-vacation. Visit Masoala to see the diverse ecosystem that Madagascar has to offer.

Prediction for the Future

Human Impact on Ecosystem

Although malagasy farming methods have destroyed large portions of rainforest, such reforestation efforts as the Eden Projects have planted 79,730,000 trees! To ensure the future of the rainforest, a balance between traditional malagasy farming culture and forest preservation must be established.

The illegal logging industry, especially on Masoala Peninsula, is popular because Malagasy hardwoods like ebony and rosewood fetch high prices in international markets; this is further habitat destruction and disrupts water cycle, for transpiration through trees is prevented

Tavy, a popular malagasy farming method in which a plot of land is cut, burned, and planted with rice, causes habitat destruction, exhaustion of nutrients, and fosters growth of invasive vegetation. This impacts the carbon cycle because the burning creates carbon dioxide gas, amongst others

Ring-Tailed Lemur: Endangered Animal

Role of Predation

• endangered because of deforestation
• eat fruit, leaves and flowers
• spend time up in trees and on the ground
• overall, 91% of the 103 known lemur species are threatened

• predation is vital to maintain balance in an ecosystem and control population
• if Fossas were to disappear, the lemur population would grow unchecked, except by human deforestation

Relationships

Predator-Prey:

• Fossa-Lemur: Fossas are the largest and top predator of Madagascar, preying mainly on lemurs
• Human-Fossa: Farmers hunt the fossa to protect livestock

Competition

• Producers: the producers of Madagascar compete for nutrients and light

Parasitic

• Mealybugs-Orchids: mealybugs are small insects that infect orchids, causing weakening, loss of leaves, etc.
• Blood Parasites-Madagascan Birds: 30.7% of birds in madagascar were infected with a blood parasite

Organisms

Consumers:

• Aye Aye (Primary)
• Red Ruffed Lemur (Primary)
• Weasel Sportive Lemur (Primary)
• Uroplatus Gecko (Secondary)
• Greater Hedgehog Tenrec (Secondary)
• Madagascar Red Owl (Tertiary)
• Madagascar Serpent Eagle (Tertiary)
• Fossa (Tertiary)

Producers:

• Baobab Trees
• Palm Trees
• Pitcher Plants
• Orchids
• Bamboo
• Ferns

Factors

Limiting Factors

Density Dependent

• Not enough resources (water and food)
• predators limit the population of the prey
• parasites and diseases spread faster when population grows too high, reducing the population
• limited space prevents populations growing too large

Density independent

• Catastrophes can kill off much of population
• Humans reducing the size of habitat

Abiotic Factors

• Climate: tropical
• Precipitation: about 100 inches annually; abundance of precipitation causes washing out of nutrients from soil
• Soil: thin and poor in nutrients. Plants need to absorb and hold nutrients better.

The Tropical Rainforest

• Found in many places around the world
• Mostly between 23.5 N and 23.5 S
• Hot, wet climate
• diverse wildlife