Rebecca De Salem Emeralda Fanomezantsoa

PhD candidate, University of Mahajanga, Madagascar

Focus regions: Afrotropical

Rebecca De Salem Emeralda Fanomezantsoa is a Malagasy conservation biologist and doctoral researcher at the University of Mahajanga, Madagascar. Her work focuses on amphibian ecology, biodiversity conservation, and environmental protection, particularly in Madagascar's highland ecosystems. She has contributed to research on critically endangered amphibians, including the conservation of Boophis williamsi in the Ankaratra Massif. Her studies combine field ecology, population monitoring, and community-based conservation approaches to support the protection of Madagascar's unique biodiversity.

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From the journals

Updated assessment of population size and habitat of the Critically Endangered frog Boophis williamsi (Guibé, 1974) in Madagascar's central highlands

Fanomezantsoa, R. D. S. E., Rabibisoa, N. H. C., Hyde Roberts, S., & Edmonds, D. A. · The Herpetological Journal · April 2026

This publication provides updated ecological and population data for Boophis williamsi, one of Madagascar's most threatened amphibians. The study confirms that the species survives in only a very restricted area of the Ankaratra Massif and estimates that only about 600 individuals remain across surveyed streams. Such information is essential for assessing extinction risk and guiding conservation priorities. The research also identifies critical habitat characteristics for different life stages, showing that tadpoles depend on shaded rocky streams while adults are more common in open savanna habitats. These findings help conservationists protect the most important microhabitats and improve habitat management strategies. In addition, the study recommends long-term monitoring methods, highlights the importance of detecting tadpoles for population surveys, and demonstrates the value of community-led conservation efforts in Madagascar. Overall, this publication fills major knowledge gaps needed for evidence-based amphibian conservation.

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