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Effects of human disturbance and altitudinal gradient on myriapod species richness and abundance at Mount Kala, central Cameroon

Effects of human disturbance and altitudinal gradient on myriapod species richness and abundance... Myriapods are remarkably diverse and encompass many endemic species, yet they remain poorly studied in Cameroon. We investigated the influence of anthropogenic activities on myriapod assemblage structures along an altitudinal gradient at Mount Kala. Myriapods were collected by pitfall trapping, hand sorting and litter sifting in four altitudinal levels and habitats (820 m, 920 m, 1 020 m and 1 120 m above sea level) from November 2017 to July 2018. A total of 1 131 individuals from 58 species in 3 classes (Diplopoda, Chilopoda and Symphyla), 36 genera and 17 families were recorded at Mount Kala. The Diplopoda was the most abundant and diverse class (94.69% and 49 species), followed by Chilopoda (4.51% and 8 species) and Symphyla (0.80% and 1 species). Aporodesmus gabonicus Lucas, 1858 and Karkinikus colonus Attems, 1914 were the most abundant species in the study site. Along the altitudinal gradient, the myriapod species richness decreased in anthropised areas (820 m to 920 m above sea level), reached a maximum in transitional forest (920 m to 1 020 m above sea level) and slightly decreased within the submontane forests (1 020 m to 1 120 m above sea level). Myriapod abundance followed the same trend. However, our results also indicate a high species richness turnover observed between altitudinal levels suggesting that most species are adapted to a particular habitat and could serve as indicators of environmental changes. Accordingly, this study demonstrates a negative relationship between anthropisation and myriapod diversity, as well as the implications towards the management of the Mount Kala forest. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png African Zoology Taylor & Francis

Effects of human disturbance and altitudinal gradient on myriapod species richness and abundance at Mount Kala, central Cameroon

Mbenoun Masse, PS; Makon, SD
African Zoology , Volume 54 (4): 9 – Dec 13, 2019
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Effects of human disturbance and altitudinal gradient on myriapod species richness and abundance at Mount Kala, central Cameroon

Abstract

Myriapods are remarkably diverse and encompass many endemic species, yet they remain poorly studied in Cameroon. We investigated the influence of anthropogenic activities on myriapod assemblage structures along an altitudinal gradient at Mount Kala. Myriapods were collected by pitfall trapping, hand sorting and litter sifting in four altitudinal levels and habitats (820 m, 920 m, 1 020 m and 1 120 m above sea level) from November 2017 to July 2018. A total of 1 131 individuals from 58 species...
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Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Copyright
© 2019 Zoological Society of Southern Africa
ISSN
2224-073X
eISSN
1562-7020
DOI
10.1080/15627020.2019.1677496
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Myriapods are remarkably diverse and encompass many endemic species, yet they remain poorly studied in Cameroon. We investigated the influence of anthropogenic activities on myriapod assemblage structures along an altitudinal gradient at Mount Kala. Myriapods were collected by pitfall trapping, hand sorting and litter sifting in four altitudinal levels and habitats (820 m, 920 m, 1 020 m and 1 120 m above sea level) from November 2017 to July 2018. A total of 1 131 individuals from 58 species in 3 classes (Diplopoda, Chilopoda and Symphyla), 36 genera and 17 families were recorded at Mount Kala. The Diplopoda was the most abundant and diverse class (94.69% and 49 species), followed by Chilopoda (4.51% and 8 species) and Symphyla (0.80% and 1 species). Aporodesmus gabonicus Lucas, 1858 and Karkinikus colonus Attems, 1914 were the most abundant species in the study site. Along the altitudinal gradient, the myriapod species richness decreased in anthropised areas (820 m to 920 m above sea level), reached a maximum in transitional forest (920 m to 1 020 m above sea level) and slightly decreased within the submontane forests (1 020 m to 1 120 m above sea level). Myriapod abundance followed the same trend. However, our results also indicate a high species richness turnover observed between altitudinal levels suggesting that most species are adapted to a particular habitat and could serve as indicators of environmental changes. Accordingly, this study demonstrates a negative relationship between anthropisation and myriapod diversity, as well as the implications towards the management of the Mount Kala forest.

Journal

African Zoology – Taylor & Francis

Published: Dec 13, 2019

Keywords: myriapod; diversity; abundance; elevational gradient; Cameroon

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