Field Station

Rebecca Lewis of the University of Texas established the Ankoatsifaka Research Station in the Kirindy Mitea National Park in 2006. It is located within the dry forest approximately 100 km south of Morondava near Belo-sur-Mer.

Infrastructure

The field station has tent sites, solar power, a building to store equipment, a kitchen, and limited water. Currently bungalows are only available for the permanent Malagasy employees, but bungalows for researchers are planned for the near future. A cook/guardian lives in camp at all times and provides 3 meals/day. Staff can also facilitate satellite camps in other areas of the park.

Weather data are collected daily. Mean annual temperature is 24°C and ranges from 6 to 41°C.  Rainfall is approximately 700 mm each year.

A 1 km² grid system of trails (with trails every 25 m) has been cut into the forest approximately 1 km from the campsite. The trail system facilitates following animals and finding plants. Researchers rarely have to leave a trail during data collection. Over 12,000 trees and vines have been marked, identified, and measured within the grid system as a part of the Sifaka Research Project. Phenological data have been collected for multiple years.

Permanent Staff