Randriamalala J. R. auteur aut IRD Randriarimalala J. auteur aut IRD Hervé Dominique auteur aut IRD Carrière Stéphanie M. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access Xerophytic thickets (XT) in south-western Madagascar are threatened by deforestation, mainly due to slash-and-burn cultivation. However, few studies have been conducted on how XT ecosystems operate. This study characterizes XT plant biodiversity and analyses the post-cultivation regeneration process of XT on the Belomotse plateau. Sixty 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). Soil was the main driver of XT floristic composition. Overstory floristic composition did not vary along secondary succession stages. However, 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. Secondary succession in XT vegetation was assimilated to growth of structural parameters. The 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. The 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. specialized Biodiversity Conservation Dry forests Rare species Regeneration Semi-arid ecosystems MADAGASCAR 082 076 021 233 260-267 2019 0006-3207 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010075668 10.1016/j.biocon.2019.03.006 0006-3207 [F B010075668] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010075668 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2019/05/010075668.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2019-06-04 2025-02-24 fdi:010075668 fre