@article{fdi:010075668,
  title = {{S}low recovery of endangered xerophytic thickets vegetation after slash-and-burn cultivation in {M}adagascar},
  author = {{R}andriamalala, {J}. {R}. and {R}andriarimalala, {J}. and {H}erv{\'e}, {D}ominique and {C}arri{\`e}re, {S}t{\'e}phanie {M}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{X}erophytic thickets ({XT}) in south-western {M}adagascar are threatened by deforestation, mainly due to slash-and-burn cultivation. {H}owever, few studies have been conducted on how {XT} ecosystems operate. {T}his study characterizes {XT} plant biodiversity and analyses the post-cultivation regeneration process of {XT} on the {B}elomotse plateau. {S}ixty 10 m x 10 m plots were sampled according to soil type (calcisol and lixisol) and age of abandonment (1-5, 6-10, 11-20, 21-40 years and > 40 years as mature {XT}). {S}oil was the main driver of {XT} floristic composition. {O}verstory floristic composition did not vary along secondary succession stages. {H}owever, structure parameters (height and basal area) increased significantly with age of abandonment, while diversity (species richness and evenness index) did not increase with age of abandonment. {S}econdary succession in {XT} vegetation was assimilated to growth of structural parameters. {T}he slowness of the growth of shrub species found in post cultivation {XT} plots can explain this lack of change in diversity and floristic composition along secondary succession stages. {T}he reduction of pressure on {XT} by promoting alternative activities that provide income for local communities (goat breeding and extension of arable areas along rivers delimiting {XT}) is proposed in order to protect the endangered biodiversity of this region.},
  keywords = {{B}iodiversity ; {C}onservation ; {D}ry forests ; {R}are species ; {R}egeneration ; {S}emi-arid ecosystems ; {MADAGASCAR}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{B}iological {C}onservation},
  volume = {233},
  numero = {},
  pages = {260--267},
  ISSN = {0006-3207},
  year = {2019},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.biocon.2019.03.006},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010075668},
}