Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership

Abstract Background Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of preventable blindness among preterm infants. Accurate retinal vessel segmentation is crucial for detecting plus disease, which indicates progression to severe ROP. However, manual annotation of vessel masks is laborious and inconsistent, especially in low-resource clinical settings. This study aimed to evaluate a self-supervised vessel extraction pipeline using Frangi–Hessian filtering for automatic pseudo-annotation of unlabeled RetCam and Neo retinal images and to compare its performance against supervised and hybrid deep learning frameworks. Methods Two public datasets from the HVDROPDB-BV repository: RetCam_Vessels and Neo_Vessels were utilized. We implemented a three-stage pipeline: automatic self-annotation of unlabeled images through vessel-based mask generation; training of five segmentation architectures—BioSwinFuseNet, UNet, FPN, LinkNet, and SegFormer—under three regimes (GT-only, Self-only, and Hybrid GT+Self); and evaluation using Dice, IoU, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, F1, and AUC metrics. All models were trained with a topology-aware loss that combined binary cross-entropy and Dice losses with continuity penalties. Results Hybrid supervision consistently outperformed both GT-only and Self-only training across all architectures. The SegFormer-Hybrid model achieved the highest Dice (0.61) and IoU (0.44), while FPN-Hybrid demonstrated the lowest variance. BioSwinFuseNet-Hybrid showed a 122% relative improvement in Dice compared to its GT-only version. Self-only models learned rudimentary vessel priors but lacked clinical precision. Conclusions Incorporating self-annotated masks alongside limited ground truth improves segmentation accuracy and vessel continuity. The hybrid paradigm offers a scalable path for developing automated ROP screening tools where expert labeling is limited.

Background and aims – Acridocarpus belongs to one of the seven Malpighiaceae lineages that dispersed from the Neotropics to the Paleotropical region, being by far the most widely diversified and distributed genus of the family in Africa. In this study, we tested the monophyly and validity of the current infrageneric classification of Acridocarpus with a dated molecular phylogeny. We also reconstructed ancestral range distributions for biomes and continents to elucidate which route led to the colonisation of Africa by the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of this genus. Material and methods – We sampled six genes (ITS, PHYC, matK , ndhF , rbcL , and trnL-F ), 21 species of Acridocarpus , and three outgroup species to test the monophyly of the infrageneric classification of the genus. BI and ML analyses were performed for the combined molecular dataset. A total of 20 morphological characters were optimised on the tree. Calibration points derived from a published Malpighiaceae chronogram were used for a dating analysis. Ancestral areas of Acridocarpus and its relatives were estimated for continental (South America, Africa, India, Madagascar, and New Caledonia) and biome (dry forests, humid forests, and savannas) ranges. Key results – The pre-existing infrageneric classification of Acridocarpus was recovered as non-monophyletic due to being solely based on homoplastic morphological characters. The MRCA of Acridocarpus colonised rainforests of East Africa + Madagascar 43 Mya via the Gondwana route and greatly diversified in this region, with a single long-distance dispersal event from Madagascar to New Caledonia (Oceania). The genus colonised African dry forests at least four different times, starting in the Oligocene and diversified a single time in Malagasy savannas in the Miocene.

<title>Abstract</title> Background <italic>Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb</italic> . is a plant with notable medicinal and economic value and is widely distributed throughout China. The MADS-box gene family is a transcription factor family found across eukaryotes that is involved in many biological processes, including flower development and fruit ripening. However, systematic information on MADS-box genes in <italic>V. bracteatum</italic> is lacking. Results This study presents the first comprehensive genome-wide identification and functional characterization of the MADS-box transcription factor family in <italic>Vaccinium bracteatum</italic> . Through bioinformatic analyses, a total of 74 VaMADS genes were identified and classified into two major groups: Type I (44 genes) and Type II (30 genes). The 24 VaMADS genes were defined as 17 pairs of duplication events, including 11 pairs of segmental duplications and 6 pairs of tandem duplications. The collinearity analysis indicated that tandem and segmental duplication contributed to the expansion of MADS-box genes. Gene structure analysis revealed that Type I genes typically have a simple architecture with one exon and no introns, whereas Type II genes have more complex structures with multiple exons and introns, showing high conservation within the subfamilies. Cis-acting element analysis revealed that VaMADS genes participate in growth, development, and stress resistance. Type II genes had higher expression levels than Type I genes during fruit development, indicating that Type II genes play a crucial role in fruit ripening. Conclusions This study identified the MADS gene family in <italic>Vaccinium bracteatum</italic> for the first time, providing an important reference for further in-depth studies on the function of the MADS-box genes in plant and fruit development.

Food insecurity remains a critical challenge for many farming communities in Madagascar, underscoring the need for sustainable strategies to improve crop yields. Black soldier fly frass (BSFF) is an emerging organic fertilizer, and composting may enhance its agronomic effectiveness. This study evaluated the effects of composted BSFF (CBSFF), fresh BSFF (FBSFF), cattle manure (CM), and a no-fertilizer control on maize (Zea mays L.) germination, height growth, grain yield, and agronomic efficiency of nitrogen (AEN) in southeastern Madagascar’s acidic sandy clay soils. Fertilizers were applied at 43 kg N/ha, reflecting actual farmer practices in the region. This rate represents one-third of the recommendation by FOFIFA (Madagascar’s national agricultural research institute). Farmers in this region rarely apply the full recommended dose due to limited access, high input costs, and low return on investment, factors that contribute to persistent yield gaps even where recommended rates are followed. Maize treated with FBSFF had significantly lower germination rate than all other treatments. In contrast, there were no statistically significant differences in final plant height or grain yield among CBSFF and CM. However, CBSFF-treated plants were on average 6 and 13% taller than those receiving CM and FBSFF, respectively, and produced 38% more grain than CM. All fertilizer treatments yielded significantly more grain than the unfertilized control, which produced no harvestable maize. CBSFF also showed the highest agronomic efficiency of nitrogen (AEN: 46 kg grain/kg N), although this difference was not statistically significant. These results suggest that BSFF, particularly in composted form, can supply sufficient nitrogen to support maize growth. Overall trends point to composted BSFF as the most agronomically effective option. Timing of application should depend on the frass form: composted BSFF is better suited for pre-planting use, while fresh BSFF may be more appropriate after germination. Even at sub-recommended doses, BSFF has the potential to enhance maize productivity and contribute to local food security. Further research across diverse agroecological zones, including trials comparing BSFF with the full recommended fertilizer dose, and economic analyses incorporating frass cost, labor, and transport are recommended to identify optimal application strategies and support widespread adoption by smallholder farmers.

Edible insects are a significant component of traditional diets in Madagascar, where food insecurity and malnutrition persist. This study examines the production parameters and nutritional composition of four laboratory-farmed edible grasshopper species commonly consumed by Malagasy people with the aim of upscaling their farming to mitigate malnutrition. The grasshopper species include: vlei grasshopper (Paracinema tricolor), rice grasshopper (Oxya hyla), emerald-legged grasshopper (Eyprepocnemis smaragdipes), and Madagascan slant-faced grasshopper (Acrida madecassa). The study involved the assessment of production parameters (survival rate, developmental time, feed consumed, feed conversion ratio, biomass yield, fecundity, and hatchability). The study also involved analysis of the nutritional content (moisture, protein, fat, ash, fibre, carbohydrates, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, and vitamins) to evaluate the potential dietary contribution of these grasshoppers. The result show P. tricolor had superior survival, faster development, low feed intake, and higher fecundity and hatchability when compared to other species of grasshoppers. Acrida madecassa showed the highest biomass yield and feed conversion ratio followed by P. tricolor. The results further show that all four species are rich in protein, essential fatty acids, and key minerals, particularly calcium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc. P. tricolor exhibited the highest protein and fat content. Moreover, P. tricolor showed the highest ash content, suggesting a superior mineral profile. Acrida madecassa showed the highest fibre content, reflecting its richness in chitin. These findings provide valuable insights into the nutritional role of grasshoppers in Malagasy diets. Furthermore, they offer reference values for selecting and optimizing the nutrient composition of insect species that are safe and easy to rear, which could serve as a sustainable alternative to wild collection. Future research should explore the bioavailability of nutrients in these species and identify suitable practices to mass rear these species to improve food security in Madagascar.

Unemployment is a major issue in Indonesia. This occurs because Indonesia is a country with a relatively high population growth rate, which affects the competition for job opportunities. One of the strategies considered effective in addressing unemployment is to create or increase the number of entrepreneurs. This study aims to determine the direct and indirect effects of social capital, managerial skills, technology literacy, and entrepreneurial motivation on entrepreneurial interest. The sampling technique used is Proportional Random Sampling, with a total of 100 students from the Faculty of Economics and Business Universitas Negeri Makassar. The results indicate that both directly and indirectly, social capital, managerial skills, technology literacy, and entrepreneurial motivation significantly influence entrepreneurial interest. Based on the findings of this study, it can serve as a source of information or a reference for educators or lecturers to guide and assist students in developing entrepreneurial skills. Students are encouraged to deepen their skills related to business management, not only focusing on the products produced but also being capable of conducting marketing activities and making decisions regarding business evaluation with the aim of developing their businesses. Furthermore, future researchers are encouraged to deepen and expand this research in terms of variables and research method development.

As the technology for mass identification of species is advancing rapidly, we developed a field sampling method that takes advantage of the emerging possibilities of combining sensor-based data with automated high-throughput data processing. This article describes the five field sampling methods used by the LIFEPLAN project to collect biodiversity data in a systematic manner, all over the world. These methods are designed for use by anyone with basic biology or ecology knowledge from the higher education or university level. We present the selection and characteristics of international sampling locations for urban and natural sites, as well as the nested scale design in the Nordic countries and Madagascar. We describe the steps to collect sequences of animal images (.jpg) from infrared triggered camera traps, audio data (.WAV) of environment sounds from audio recorders, invertebrate samples in ethanol from Malaise traps for DNA metabarcoding, as well as both soil samples and 24-hour air samples obtained from cyclone samplers for fungal DNA metabarcoding. To ensure the usability and consistency of the data for future use, we pay particular attention to the metadata collected. In specifying the current sampling protocols, we note that technology will continue to improve and evolve. Hardware will also change within a short time period, with the advantage of improving the equipment used for collecting samples. Thus, we present examples of the samples collected by each current sampling method, to be used as a baseline or in comparison with different equipment models.

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 into a highly susceptible global population was primarily driven by human mobility-induced introduction events. Especially in the early stages, understanding mobility was vital to mitigating the pandemic prior to widespread vaccine availability. We conducted a systematic review of studies published from January 1, 2020, to May 9, 2021, that used population-level human mobility data to understand SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Of the 5505 papers with abstracts screened, 232 were included in the analysis. These papers focused on a range of specific questions but were dominated by analyses focusing on the USA and China. The majority included mobile phone data, followed by Google Community Mobility Reports, and few included any adjustments to account for potential biases in population sampling processes. There was no clear relationship between methods used to integrate mobility and SARS-CoV-2 data and goals of analysis. When considering papers focused only on the estimation of the effective reproductive number within the US, there was no clear relationship identified between this measure and changes in mobility patterns. Our findings underscore the need for standardized, systematic ways to identify the source of mobility data, select an appropriate approach to using it in analysis, and reporting.

Climate change is shifting animal distributions. However, the extent to which future global habitats of threatened marine megafauna will overlap existing human threats remains unresolved. Here we use global climate models and habitat suitability estimated from long-term satellite-tracking data of the world’s largest fish, the whale shark, to show that redistributions of present-day habitats are projected to increase the species’ co-occurrence with global shipping. Our model projects core habitat area losses of >50% within some national waters by 2100, with geographic shifts of over 1,000 km (∼12 km yr−1). Greater habitat suitability is predicted in current range-edge areas, increasing the co-occurrence of sharks with large ships. This future increase was ∼15,000 times greater under high emissions compared with a sustainable development scenario. Results demonstrate that climate-induced global species redistributions that increase exposure to direct sources of mortality are possible, emphasizing the need for quantitative climate-threat predictions in conservation assessments of endangered marine megafauna.

This study aims to determine the effect of motivation and knowledge on entrepreneurial interest in Universitas Negeri Makassar students with entrepreneurship education as an intervening variable. The study will use a quantitative approach with a survey method. The research population is all entrepreneurship students of the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Negeri Makassar which amounted to 427 students. Data collection was carried out using a questionnaire and later calculated using the Slovin dai with a sample size of 85 (eighty-five) respondents or 20% of the total population. The findings of this study indicate that motivation and knowledge have a significant role in shaping entrepreneurial interest through entrepreneurship education. Individual motivation, whether sourced from personal passion, career goals, or the drive to create change, can be a strong driver to develop entrepreneurial interest. Entrepreneurship education provides a foundation of knowledge and practical skills that strengthen this motivation. With the knowledge gained through education, individuals can understand the aspects of entrepreneurship, identify opportunities and overcome business challenges. The combination of high motivation and solid entrepreneurial knowledge creates a favorable environment for the development of entrepreneurial interest.