Advancing transdisciplinary research on Madagascar's grassy biomes to support resilience in ecosystems and livelihoods

Abstract Grassy biomes (savanna and grasslands) are globally extensive and host a unique biodiversity that is of central importance to human livelihoods. We focus here on the island of Madagascar—a microcosm of the global tropics, covered in 80% grassy biomes—to illustrate how transdisciplinary approaches to research can clarify ecosystem dynamics, from evolutionary history to human land use. Research on Madagascar's human‐environment interactions has sparked debates about the role of past and current land use in shaping grassy biomes (e.g., pastoralism, cultivation, fire use). These debates echo those in other regions globally, and highlight obstacles to understanding and supporting both ecosystem and livelihood resilience. Like many tropical biodiversity hotspots, Madagascar faces converging challenges that can be aided by transdisciplinary research, including food and health insecurity, economic inequities, biodiversity loss, climate change, land conversion, and limited resource access. We present a framework to guide transdisciplinary research centered on improved understanding and management of grassy biomes on Madagascar by: (1) establishing a globally common terminology; (2) summarizing data contributions and scientific knowledge gaps relating to Madagascar's grassy biomes; (3) identifying priority research questions for Madagascar with applicability in other regions; and (4) highlighting transdisciplinary, inclusive approaches to research that can co‐benefit people and the ecosystems with which they interact.

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Publication Details

Journal
Ecological Monographs
Published
2025-05-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/ecm.70011
Citations
2
Primary Topic
Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
4.84

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article

Advancing transdisciplinary research on Madagascar's grassy biomes to support resilience in ecosystems and livelihoods

Tanjona Ramiadantsoa, Ny Riavo G. Voarintsoa, Joelisoa Ratsirarson, Jan Hackel et al.
2 citations
Ecological Monographs
Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
4.84
article

Advancing transdisciplinary research on Madagascar's grassy biomes to support resilience in ecosystems and livelihoods

Tanjona Ramiadantsoa, Ny Riavo G. Voarintsoa, Joelisoa Ratsirarson, Jan Hackel, Sylvie Andriambololonera, George P. Tiley, Lounès Chikhi, William J. Bond, Tianjanahary Randriamboavonjy, Nantenaina Rakotomalala, Lala Roger Andriamiarisoa, Estelle Razanatsoa, Christian A. Kull, Mamy Tiana Rajaonah, Grant S. Joseph, Leanne N. Phelps, David Rabehevitra, Jordi Salmona, Víctor Fernández‐García, Dylan S. Davis, Ute Radespiel, Fetra O. Randriatsara, Kristina Douglass, David A. Burney, Andriantsilavo Hery Isandratana Razafimanantsoa, Tobias van Elst, Botovao Auguste Ramiandrisoa, Helena Teixeira, Lucienne Wilmé, Lindsey Gillson, Alexandre Antonelli, Karen E. Samonds, Brooke E. Crowley, Guillaume Besnard, Simon Haberle, Laurie R. Godfrey, Gareth P. Hempson, Tanambelo Rasolondrainy, Rob Marchant, Travis S. Steffens, Colleen L. Seymour, Rónadh Cox, Nick Scroxton, James P. Hansford, Anne D. Yoder, Patrick O. Waeber, Caroline E. R. Lehmann, Cédrique L. Solofondranohatra, Tobias Andermann, Elliot Convery Fisher, Karen V. Pham, Vincent Montade, Jeannie Raharimampionona, Hery Lisy Tiana Ranarijaona, Maria Sergeevna Vorontsova, Sean Hixon, Noro Fenitra Harimbao Randrianarimanana, Chiamaka Mangut, Chris Birkinshaw
article en
2 citations

Abstract

Abstract Grassy biomes (savanna and grasslands) are globally extensive and host a unique biodiversity that is of central importance to human livelihoods. We focus here on the island of Madagascar—a microcosm of the global tropics, covered in 80% grassy biomes—to illustrate how transdisciplinary approaches to research can clarify ecosystem dynamics, from evolutionary history to human land use. Research on Madagascar's human‐environment interactions has sparked debates about the role of past and current land use in shaping grassy biomes (e.g., pastoralism, cultivation, fire use). These debates echo those in other regions globally, and highlight obstacles to understanding and supporting both ecosystem and livelihood resilience. Like many tropical biodiversity hotspots, Madagascar faces converging challenges that can be aided by transdisciplinary research, including food and health insecurity, economic inequities, biodiversity loss, climate change, land conversion, and limited resource access. We present a framework to guide transdisciplinary research centered on improved understanding and management of grassy biomes on Madagascar by: (1) establishing a globally common terminology; (2) summarizing data contributions and scientific knowledge gaps relating to Madagascar's grassy biomes; (3) identifying priority research questions for Madagascar with applicability in other regions; and (4) highlighting transdisciplinary, inclusive approaches to research that can co‐benefit people and the ecosystems with which they interact.

Ecological MonographsVol. 95(2)
University College Dublin (IE), Northern Illinois University (US), Australian National University (AU), Uppsala University (SE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Pennsylvania State University (US), Oregon State University (US), Federal Reserve (US), Zoological Society of London (GB), Climate Central (US), Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (FR), University of Wisconsin–Madison (US), University of Antananarivo (MG), Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (US), Ifremer (FR), University of Cape Town (ZA), Philipps University of Marburg (DE), Stockholm University (SE), Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (GB), Duke University (US), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation (DE), University of the Witwatersrand (ZA), Université de Montpellier (FR), Williams College (US), University of Massachusetts Amherst (US), University of Reunion Island (RE), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (GB), Science for Life Laboratory (SE), Askham Bryan College (GB), Missouri Botanical Garden (US), Edinburgh College (GB), University of Toliara (MG), ETH Zurich (CH), University of Oxford (GB), South African National Biodiversity Institute (ZA), Butetown Community Centre (GB), Université de Mahajanga (MG), Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training SFUVET (CH), Catholic University of Madagascar (MG), Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier (FR), Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership (MG), Oahu Community Recycling (United States) (US), Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History (DE), Hannover Re (Germany) (DE), Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (FR), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR), Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, University of Houston (US), University College London (GB), Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (PT), University of York (GB), University of Cincinnati (US), Columbia University (US), University of Glasgow (GB), University of Guelph (CA), University of Gothenburg (SE), Universidad de León (ES), University of Lausanne (CH), University of Edinburgh (GB)
Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Labex, Vetenskapsrådet
Openalex Percentile: Top 5%
Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
4.84
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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