Northeastern Madagascar Research Articles

Complex stands in forested tropical landscapes harbor more endemic biodiversity and ecosystem functions

Transformation of forests into agricultural lands threatens biodiversity and ecosystem functions globally. In the biodiversity hotspot Madagascar, key ecosystem functions along with highly endemic flora and fauna are under threat. Comprehensive studies identifying determinants of biodiversity and ecosystem function losses are lacking, with no studies accounting for endemic species richness across multiple taxa. We assess how plot-scale stand structural attributes (basal area, leaf area index, diameter diversity, and tree species richness) and landscape-scale forest cover influence biodiversity (species richness of butterflies, ants, birds, reptiles, amphibians, herbaceous plants, and multidiversity) and ecosystem functions (soil organic carbon, predation rate, acoustic diversity, and multifunctionality) in the tropical mosaic landscape of northeastern Madagascar. Complexly structured stands with a larger basal area and/or a higher tree species richness promoted greater endemic multidiversity (R² = 0.70), soil organic carbon, and acoustic diversity. However, our models did not indicate significant explanatory variables for multidiversity (R² = 0.25) and multifunctionality (R² = 0.43). Landscape-scale forest cover significantly favored endemic bird species richness. Our findings highlight that a simplified stand structure, resulting from land-use change, substantially reduces endemic biodiversity and ecosystem functions in this historically forested region. Conservation actions should aim at maintaining complex stand structure in forests and agroforests, while restoration interventions should focus on re-building such structures.

Astroviruses in terrestrial Malagasy mammals.

Small terrestrial mammals are major hosts of infectious agents responsible for zoonotic diseases. Astroviruses (AstVs)-the cause of non-bacterial gastroenteritis mainly affecting young children-have been detected in a wide array of mammalian and avian host species. However, understanding the factors that influence AstV infection within and across hosts is limited. Here, we investigated the impact of land use changes on AstVs in terrestrial small mammals in rural northeastern Madagascar. We sampled 515 small mammals, representing seven endemic and four introduced species. Twenty-two positive samples were identified, all but one of which were found in the introduced species Mus musculus and Rattus rattus (family Muridae), with a positivity rate of 7.7% (6/78) and 5.6% (15/266), respectively. The non-introduced rodent case was from an endemic shrew-tenrec (family Tenrecidae). We found the highest positivity rate of AstVs infection in brushy regrowth (17.5%, 7/40) as compared to flooded rice fields (4.60%, 8/174), secondary forest (4.1%, 3/74), agroforest (3.6%, 1/28), village (2.61%, 3/115), and semi-intact forest (0%, 0/84). A phylogenetic analysis revealed an association between AstVs and their rodent host species. None of the viruses were phylogenetically related to AstVs previously described in Malagasy bats. This study supports AstV circulation in synanthropic animals in agricultural habitats of Madagascar and highlights the need to assess the spillover risk to human populations in rural areas.

Simulation training on respectful emergency obstetric and neonatal care in north-western Madagascar: a mixed-methods evaluation of an innovative training program

BackgroundThe rates of maternal and neonatal deaths in Madagascar are among the highest in the world. In response to a request for additional training from obstetrical care providers at the Ambanja district hospital in north-eastern Madagascar, a partnership of institutions in Switzerland and Madagascar conducted innovative training on respectful emergency obstetric and newborn care using e-learning and simulation methodologies. The training focused on six topics: pre-eclampsia, physiological childbirth, obstetric maneuvers, postpartum hemorrhage, maternal sepsis, and newborn resuscitation. Cross-cutting themes were interprofessional communication and respectful patient care. Ten experienced trainers participated in an e-training-of-trainers course conducted by the Swiss partners. The newly-trained trainers and Swiss partners then jointly conducted the hybrid remote/in-person training for 11 obstetrical care providers in Ambanja.MethodsA mixed methods evaluation was conducted of the impact of the training on participants’ knowledge and practices. Trainees’ knowledge was tested before, immediately after, and 6 months after the training. Focus group discussions were conducted to elicit participants’ opinions about the training, including the content and pedagogical methods.ResultsTrainees’ knowledge of the six topics was higher at 6 months (with an average of 71% correct answers) compared to before the training (62%), although it was even higher (83%) immediately after the training. During the focus group discussions, participants highlighted their positive impressions of the training, including its impact on their sense of professional effectiveness. They reported that their interprofessional relationships and focus on respectful care had improved. Simulation, which was a new methodology for the participants native to Madagascar, was appreciated for its engaging and active format, and they enjoyed the hybrid delivery of the training. Participants (including the trainers) expressed a desire for follow-up engagement, including additional training, and improved access to more equipment.ConclusionThe evaluation showed improvements in trainees’ knowledge and capacity to provide respectful emergency care to pregnant women and newborns across all training topics. The hybrid simulation-based training method elicited strong enthusiasm. Significant opportunity exists to expand the use of hybrid onsite/remote simulation-based training to improve obstetrical care and health outcomes for women and newborns in Madagascar and elsewhere.

Interactive visual syntheses for social-ecological systems understanding

Many social-ecological systems are in an unsustainable state. Bringing together disjunct published findings on complex interactions in social-ecological systems may enable the identification of leverage points for transformations towards sustainability. However, such interdisciplinary synthesis studies on specific regional social-ecological systems remain rare. Here, we pair a review of systematically identified studies with a cross-impact analysis to create an interactive visual social-ecological systems synthesis on conflicts and synergies between land use, biodiversity conservation, and human wellbeing in north-eastern Madagascar. The interactive visual synthesis (https://visualsynthesis.wyssacademy.org) depicts an archetypical regional landscape with 22 factors comprising physical landscape elements, ecosystem services, wellbeing, human activities, and telecouplings. To understand the connections between these factors, we assess directional causal links based on literature sources. The visual synthesis shows that research has so far focused on links between land use and biodiversity while links to human wellbeing were studied more seldomly. We then identify chains and cycles that emerge from the links between factors and rate them based on their plausibility and relevance. All eight top-rated chains and cycles relate to subsistence and commercial agriculture, revealing promising leverage points at which interventions could improve outcomes for biodiversity and wellbeing. In sum, we show how interactive visual syntheses can be a useful way to make disjunct published findings on regional social-ecological systems more accessible, to find research gaps, and to identify leverage points for sustainability transformations.

Provisioning services decline for both people and Critically Endangered wildlife in a rainforest transformation landscape

Abstract The loss and degradation of forests and other ecosystems worldwide threaten both global biodiversity and the livelihoods of people who use natural resources. Understanding how natural resource use impacts landscape provisioning services for both people and wildlife is thus critical for designing comprehensive resource management strategies. We used data from community focus groups, botanical plots and an inventory of plant species consumed by the Critically Endangered red‐ruffed lemur (Varecia rubra) to assess the availability of key provisioning services for people and endemic wildlife on the Masoala Peninsula, a rainforest transformation landscape, in northeastern Madagascar (Masoala National Park and 13 surrounding communities). We constructed Poisson regression mixed models to evaluate the impact of community factors (i.e. community population size, plot distance to community) and changes over time on the count and species richness of timber trees, medicinal plants and red‐ruffed lemur food trees within botanical plots. Over three‐quarters of all plant species could be used for at least one purpose by local communities (n = 238 species). Of the 59 V. rubra food tree species, only 15% had no reported human use. Timber and ruffed lemur food tree availability declined both with community population size and time and were predicted to be lower outside of Masoala National Park. In contrast, medicinal plant availability was not strongly predicted by any tested factors. Provisioning service availability also differed strongly across sites, suggesting that additional, untested proxies of human pressure likely also have an effect. Our results highlight the importance of evaluating natural resource availability from a community‐based perspective and by resource purpose to inform forest landscape restoration efforts that can support both people and wildlife. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Tropical cyclone FANTALA's three turnbacks in the northeast of Madagascar Island.

The unique Tropical cyclone (TC) Fantala appeared in the central Indian Ocean (12.4°S, 73.5°E) at 00Z on April 11 in 2016 and moved northwestward along the northeast of Madagascar at 18 Z on April 15. Then, two incomprehensible turnbacks formed a unique TC track. The dynamic mechanisms of the three turnbacks were first studied based on remote sensing and multisource reanalysis data. The results reveal that the wind field with upper divergence and lower convergence promotes the development of Fantala. The anticyclone high pressure on the middle level atmosphere is an important factor for TC turnbacks. On 15 April, the TC made the first turnback to turn northwest due to the southward anticyclone weakened to moving northwest. On 18 April, the TC made the second turnback along the anticyclone edge due to the northern high-pressure and southern low-pressure trough. On 22 April, the TC made the third turnback because the anticyclonic high press center broke into two small independent anticyclonic centers in the southwest and northeast, which created a barrier band and pushed the northern TC to move to the northwest. Meanwhile, the vertical wind shear (VWS) also provides favorable conditions for TC turnbacks. On April 18, the middle atmosphere of the TC was affected by strong easterly shear and weak southerly shear, and the second turnback was completed. On April 22, the middle level environment was affected by strong westerly shear and weak north shear, and the third turnback was completed. Additionally, heat transport from the ocean to the atmosphere provides favorable conditions for TC development. On April 18, The maximum mean latent heat flux over northeastern Madagascar was 112.94 W/m2, Tropical Cyclone Heat Potential was 39.05 kJ/cm2, and the maximum wind speed at the center of the TC was 155 kts. On April 22, The heat transfer from the equator increased by 18.08 W/m2 compared with the latent heat on 21 April, the Tropical Cyclone Heat Potential was 33.30 kJ/cm2, the maximum wind speed in the TC center was 90 kts, the high PV centerspread down from 850 mb to 900 mb. This study deepens the understanding of track forecasting during the development of a TC.

Rational Exploration of Northeastern Madagascar Halieutic Resource

Rational Exploration of Northeastern Madagascar Halieutic Resource

Sustainable Management of Northeastern Madagascar Halieutic Resources

Sustainable Management of Northeastern Madagascar Halieutic Resources

Documentation of commercial and subsistence hunting of Critically Endangered black-and-white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata) in northeastern Madagascar

Hunting of wild animals for meat and habitat loss are the main drivers of wildlife population decline around the world, and in tropical regions in particular. While Madagascar is a hotspot for biodiversity, hunting is widespread, mostly in form of subsistence hunting, while hunting for the pet trade is less often reported.We studied hunting of the Critically Endangered black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata) in northeastern Madagascar. Using lemur surveys (102.7 km survey effort) and 54 semi-structured and seven key informant interviews, we assessed the local knowledge, hunting pressure, and the perceived and actual abundances of V. variegata in two hunting and two non-hunting villages.V. variegata was well known (> 83%) by the respondents but abundance estimates differed significantly between hunting and non-hunting villages, with 26% and 77% of respondents, respectively, estimating a high abundance of ruffed lemurs in the adjacent forests of the villages. Actual observations of V. variegata also differed strongly, in accordance to perceived abundances. Hunting was either done by trapping animals or by pursuit hunts. In both hunting villages, adult lemurs were used for direct meat consumption and juveniles for rearing for the later trade. Hand-raised V. variegata were reported to be sold for 38–71 USD on regional markets or ‘delivered’ directly to buyers.While wildlife hunting has been widely reported from all over Madagascar, commercial hunting, hand-rearing and trading adds a new dimension of threat towards these Critically Endangered lemurs. As such, the extent of the trade is a priority for future studies.

Wild sea cucumber trade in rural Madagascar: Consequences for conservation and human welfare

AbstractOverexploitation of fisheries is a challenge to both marine conservation and human welfare. The trade of sea cucumbers is a multi‐billion‐dollar market, spanning over 70 countries. Global concern over unsustainable sea cucumber trade led to the inclusion of three species in CITES Appendix II, two of which are found in Madagascar (Holothuria fuscogilva and Holothuria nobilis). We used 792 structured interviews (2015–2020) to study the intensity of wild sea cucumber collection and exportation in rural northeastern Madagascar, where 30% of all (terrestrial and aquatic) native species are threatened with extinction. Wild sea cucumber collection was common and increased tenfold during the study; one in five coastal households caught and sold wild sea cucumbers. Furthermore, trade relied on threatened species; half of collected sea cucumbers are threatened, including CITES II‐restricted H. nobilis (Endangered) and H. fuscogilva (Vulnerable). While such collection threatens conservation, it improved the welfare of rural collectors. Sea cucumber collectors were significantly wealthier and more food secure than other community members. Given both the high collection of threatened and regulated species and high regional food insecurity (58% of households), the current regulation of threatened species alone is not reducing levels of unsustainable catch.

Driving Factors of the Hydrological Response of a Tropical Watershed: The Ankavia River Basin in Madagascar

Understanding the hydrological behavior of watersheds (WS) and their driving factors is crucial for sustainable water resources management. However, at large scales, this task remains challenging due to the spatial heterogeneity in landscapes, topography and morphology (T), land cover (LC), geology (G), and soil properties (S). In this context, the aim of this study was to identify the key factors that influence the hydrological signatures of four watersheds: Ankavia (WS1: 55% forest cover), Ankaviabe (WS2: 77% forest cover), Sahafihitry (WS3: 41% forest cover), and Antsahovy (WS4: 48% forest cover), over a 10-month study period. These catchments are located within the SAVA region of northeastern Madagascar and have a humid tropical climate. We investigated the relationship between selected catchment descriptors and hydrological signatures by using a Pearson coefficient-based correlation matrix. More specifically, catchment descriptors (extracted from T, LC, G, and S) were correlated with the following hydrological signatures: base flow index (BFI), mean runoff coefficient (rc), mean peak flow (Qp), mean runoff event time scales (ts), high flows (Q5), low flows (Q95), and mean discharge (q_mean). The analysis revealed that land cover, soil properties, and geology seem to be the best predictors for BFI and Q95, while soil properties mainly govern rc, Qp, Q5, ts, and q_mean. These findings provide valuable insights into the key drivers of hydrological behavior that can inform water resource management strategies. In particular, WS2 exhibits better flood buffering capacity but also experiences lower base flows in the dry season, potentially due to higher evapotranspiration. Conversely, WS3 and WS4 (and to a lesser extent WS1) have lower flood buffering capacity, but these watersheds encounter less pronounced low flows in the dry season due to higher BFIs, possibly attributable to lower evapotranspiration rates. The results underscore the importance of responsible land use practices and conservation efforts, which are essential for the sustainable development of the region. By incorporating these practices into water management strategies, we can help ensure a more stable and reliable water supply for communities and ecosystems within the region.

Complementary ecosystem services from multiple land uses highlight the importance of tropical mosaic landscapes

Tropical agricultural landscapes often consist of a mosaic of different land uses, yet little is known about the spectrum of ecosystem service bundles and materials they provide to rural households. We interviewed 320 households on the different benefits received from prevalent land-use types in north-eastern Madagascar (old-growth forests, forest fragments, vanilla agroforests, woody fallows, herbaceous fallows, and rice paddies) in terms of ecosystem services and plant uses. Old-growth forests and forest fragments were reported as important for regulating services (e.g. water regulation), whilst fallow lands and vanilla agroforests as important for provisioning services (food, medicine, fodder). Households reported the usage of 285 plant species (56% non-endemics) and collected plants from woody fallows for varying purposes, whilst plants from forest fragments, predominantly endemics, were used for construction and weaving. Multiple land-use types are thus complementary for providing ecosystem services, with fallow lands being particularly important. Hence, balancing societal needs and conservation goals should be based on diversified and comprehensive land management.

A new species of Thilachium (Capparaceae) from the Analanjirofo Region, Madagascar

Madagascar is a centre of speciation for the genus Thilachium Lour., which includes several species of small trees and shrubs occurring in a wide range of habitats. A new species of Thilachium, T. latifolium Fici, from the Analanjirofo Region of northeastern Madagascar is here described and illustrated. It is characterised by 1-foliolate leaves, leaf blades widely ovate or elliptic with shortly acuminate or acute apices, flowers in terminal, dense subumbels or corymbs, short pedicels and ellipsoid, ribbed fruit. The new species is related to T. madagascariense Fici, a species recently described from eastern Madagascar, differing in the wider, coriaceous leaves with shorter, mucronulate tip, flowers in terminal, 7–16-flowered subumbels or corymbs, shorter pedicels and longer anthers. The distribution, autecology and affinities of the new species are discussed, its conservation status is assessed, and an updated key is provided for the species of the genus Thilachium known from Madagascar.

Assessing farmers’ income vulnerability to vanilla and clove export economies in northeastern Madagascar using land-use change modelling

ABSTRACT Using a participatory Bayesian network-based land-use decision model, we simulate future land-use patterns under various scenarios, including changes in vanilla and clove market prices as well as changes in irrigation water availability and potential harvest failures. Findings indicate that specifically the vanilla value chain (compared to the clove value chain) has a major influence on farmers income vulnerability. Abandoning vanilla cultivation may lead to poverty once income from vanilla reaches a certain threshold. By comparing farmer’s income gains from cash crop production with costs for buying rice to cover basic needs, we show that while focusing on cash crop production is more lucrative, it is, however, highly risky with regard to climate change, price volatility and possible crop thefts. Such lock-in-effects in cash crops, like the vanilla ones in northeastern Madagascar, are essential to be considered, when designing policies for a more sustainable development of resource-rich but poverty-prone regions.

Vanilla Bats: Insectivorous Bat Diversity in the Vanilla Agroecosystems of Northeastern Madagascar

Due to global agricultural expansion and intensification, many animal species must now survive within a landscape dominated by agroecosystems. For bats, agroecosystems can provide a valuable foraging-habitat, and many species of bats thrive within such habitats whilst also providing a range of ecosystem services for farmers. Despite this, bat usage of many agroecosystem types remains unstudied. Here, we investigated the diversity of insectivorous bats in the vanilla agroecosystems of northeastern Madagascar, the world's principal vanilla-growing region. To assess bat diversity, we used a passive acoustic survey technique, and we identified and classified bat species diversity using PCA and DFA analysis of echolocation call acoustic parameters. In total, we were able to detect the presence of at least 13 different bat species within Madagascar's vanilla agroecosystems, seven of which we were able to confidently identify to species level. However, due to our conservative classification approach, the true diversity of bats in vanilla agroecosystems is likely to be higher. The results of this study indicate that Madagascar's vanilla agroecosystems represent suitable foraging habitat for numerous bat species, particularly forest-specialists, which is a highly encouraging finding for the conservation of Madagascar's bats. Expansion of vanilla agroecosystems is therefore likely to provide valuable habitat extensions for Madagascar's forest bats in the future, provided this expansion does not come at the expense of existing largely-undisturbed natural habitats.

Market supply of livestock and animal products in north-eastern Madagascar – the role of the vanilla boom

The SAVA region, located in north-eastern Madagascar, is a global hotspot of vanilla production. Here, soaring vanilla prices over the past 7 years, the so-called “vanilla boom”, improved the socioeconomic situation of the farming population, which may change dietary patterns towards higher meat consumption and offer an opportunity for regional livestock producers. This paper therefore investigates if the vanilla boom opened new market opportunities to local stakeholders by targeting 81 livestock producers, 23 butchers, and 34 retailers involved in the supply chain of live animals and animal products in the region. Starting from regular food markets of three major cities and three villages, data on animal and meat sales in and outside the vanilla selling season (July-September) was collected. Information on opportunities and challenges faced by different stakeholders was recorded, and the determination of the geographical location of markets, animal and product origins served the compilation of foodsheds. Results revealed that local livestock producers are mostly supplying poultry while butchers are exclusively selling zebu cattle and pigs. Zebus and eggs are completely sourced from neighbouring as well as distant regions to meet the huge local demand, while poultry and pigs are mostly supplied by regional producers. Animal sales volumes increase during the vanilla selling season, due to a temporarily enhanced regional purchasing power based on cash income from vanilla sales. Although the high demand motivates local and more remote producers to intensify their livestock activities, livestock diseases, lack of appropriate animal management, and market information hamper their endeavours. Transparent and timely market information flow, training of livestock producers, as well as investments in transportation and marketing infrastructure could support the development of the local livestock sector and improve the local supply with animal source food in the SAVA region.

Marine heat waves and tropical cyclones - Two devastating types of coastal hazard in South-eastern Africa

The coast of southeastern Africa is the only part of the continent to experience landfalling tropical cyclones (TCs), the most destructive and hazardous of weather systems. It is also a region which frequently experiences long-lasting marine heat waves (MHWs). Three coastal regions in southeastern Africa with high biodiversity and relatively large populations dependent on local coral reefs and artisanal fishing are analysed in terms of the characteristics of TCs and MHWs. Significantly increasing trends in MHW duration and frequency, TC heat potential and coral bleaching events are found during austral summer in all three coastal areas, with northeastern Madagascar experiencing the highest rate. The co-occurrence of TCs and MHWs in each region is also considered using a parameter-space plot of MHW intensity versus TC wind speed. A high percentage of pre-existing MHWs help strengthen TCs as they pass over the MHW region but an even higher percentage of the TCs tend to weaken or end MHWs after they both co-occur. Of the three coastal zones considered, northeastern Madagascar is more prone to landfalling severe cyclones and long-lasting MHWs. It is suggested that as the TC approaches the MHW region, the rapid increase in surface wind friction velocity, intense heat loss to the atmosphere and entrainment cooling are all important processes that determine the rate at which the MHW weakens towards its demise. TC-MHWs co-occurring together may be considered a compound extreme event. The magnitude of their impacts on the southeast African coast in recent decades highlights the need for increased monitoring and improved real-time forecasting of these devastating coastal hazards.

Lepocranus and Valalyllum gen. nov. (Orthoptera, Tetrigidae, Cladonotinae), endangered Malagasy dead-leaf-like grasshoppers.

Only two leaf-like pygmy grasshopper species and specimens are known from Madagascar: the Leatherback Pygmy Grasshopper (Lepocranusfuscus Devriese, 1991) -which has a relatively low median carina of the pronotum; and the Malagasy Litterhopper (Valalyllumfolium gen. et. sp. nov.), herein described - which has a high median carina. Lepocranusfuscus is known from the rainforests around Tampolo, Manakambahiny, and Mahavelona (Foulpointe). The new taxon, Valalyllumfolium gen. et. sp. nov. is known only from the Belanono forest. Both species inhabit northeastern Madagascar. The new species could be rare or not-easy-to-spot in the rainforest leaf litter, where it most probably lives. A new tribe, Valalyllinitrib. nov., is described for the two mentioned genera because its members are different from the Caribbean leaf-like Choriphyllini Cadena-Castañeda & Silva, 2019, from the African leaf-like Xerophyllini Günther, 1979, and from the Asian leaf-like Cladonotini Bolívar, 1887. A tabular key to the tribes of Cladonotinae with leaf-like representatives is provided, together with photographs of type specimens of both species belonging to the newly described tribe. The holotype of the new species belongs to the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle Orthoptera collection, Paris.

Support trees in vanilla agroforests of Madagascar: diversity, composition and origin

Trees in agroforestry systems provide multiple ecological and economic functions. Smallholder vanilla agroforests include shade trees common across agroforestry systems, and small-statured support trees carrying the vanilla vine. Support trees have received little scientific attention so far. The objectives of our study were to assess the diversity, composition and geographic origin of support trees in vanilla agroforestry systems of north-eastern Madagascar. The region is a global biodiversity hotspot, has been undergoing a rapid land-use change and produces a large share of the globally traded vanilla spice. The studied vanilla agroforests differed in land-use history: established either directly inside forest (forest-derived) or on land previously used for slash-and-burn agriculture (fallow-derived). Among the support trees, we found 122 species of which 25% were endemic to Madagascar. The species richness per plot was four times higher in forest-derived than in fallow-derived vanilla agroforests. The species distribution was particularly uneven in fallow-derived vanilla agroforests with one species (Jatropha curcas) comprising 52% of all individuals. In forest-derived vanilla agroforests, 44% of all trees were native or endemic to Madagascar, whereas in fallow-derived vanilla agroforests only 11% were native or endemic. We conclude that there is a considerable diversity among support trees in Malagasy vanilla agroforestry. The support tree diversity is strongly affected by land-use history. Fallow-derived vanilla agroforests currently have a comparatively low species richness, yet they can play an important role in land rehabilitation, and more emphasis on growing native and endemic tree species would contribute to aligning production with conservation goals.

The effects of sea turtle and other marine megafauna consumption in northeastern Madagascar

ABSTRACT Sea turtles are essential to the health of marine ecosystems, yet nearly 90% are threatened with extinction. The unsustainable consumption of sea turtles contributes to their global decline. Because sea turtle meat is also high in heavy metals, the monitoring of sea turtle consumption is a priority for both marine conservation and public health. Despite this, sea turtle consumption was understudied along Madagascar’s eastern coastline. We used structured interviews (collected over nine years) in northeastern Madagascar to study the rural consumption of sea turtles and other marine megafauna (including dolphins, whales, and dugongs). Sea turtle consumption is increasing in the southwest Indian Ocean. Over 80% of households ate a mean of 1.47 kg of sea turtle meat per year over the prior decade. The vast majority of sea turtle meat was purchased. Households which were more financially and nutritionally secure ate significantly more sea turtle meat. Sea turtle meat did not provide a significant source of nutrients to insecure households. Thus, its elimination from the diet would be unlikely to economically or nutritionally harm consumers. In fact, sea turtle meat contributed significantly to heavy metal burdens within communities and reducing consumption is a key step toward ensuring both adequate public and environmental health. Social marketing campaigns on the content and effects of heavy metals in sea turtle meat paired with increased heavy metal testing of children and pregnant women, may benefit both local communities and marine conservation.