Diversity and distribution of millipedes (Diplopoda) in the Campo Ma'an National Park, southern Cameroon

Abstract

Diplopods (millipedes) are one of the important groups of terrestrial Arthropoda in tropical forest ecosystems. Despite their ecological importance, data on millipede populations are still scarce and outdated in Cameroon. The first comparative eco‐faunistic analysis is presented of two local populations of Diplopoda in two lowland rainforests (nearly primary and secondary) during 12 months (2015–2016) at the southern periphery of the Campo Ma'an National Park in southern Cameroon. The millipedes were collected using pitfall trapping and quadrat sampling, their diversity and distribution analyzed with the help of two diversity indexes and two nonparametric estimators. Overall, 27 species in eighteen genera, ten families and four orders were revealed in the two forests, yet each faunule was about equally rich (23 and 22 species in the primary and secondary forest, respectively) and peculiar (five and four species unique, respectively). The Odontopygidae was the most abundant family, which made up to 33% of the total species diversity. The most abundant species in both forests was Aporodesmus gabonicus (26.8% of occurrences). This study shows that despite the similarity in millipede species richness between both habitats, the species composition of all habitats was different. Some species occurred in two habitats whilst others were restricted to only one habitat.

Gastrointestinal symbiont diversity in wild gorilla: A comparison of bacterial and strongylid communities across multiple localities

“…Dja and Dzangha‐Sangha are both evergreen swamp forest (Dupain et al, 2004; Sak et al, 2013), while Odzala‐Kokoua is characterized by evergreen forest with areas of forest–savannah mosaic (Molina‐Vacas et al, 2020). Some environmental factors are consistent across localities, such as temperature, with averages ranging from 22 to 29°C (Dupain et al, 2004; Head et al, 2012; Mbenoun Masse et al, 2018; Medjibe et al, 2011; Molina‐Vacas et al, 2020). All sites experience two wet seasons yearly, but average annual rainfall varies across localities as follows: Loango 2215 mm (Head et al, 2012), Campo Ma'an 2800 mm (Mbenoun Masse et al, 2018), Dja 1600 mm (Dupain et al, 2004), Odzala‐Kokoua 1200 mm (Molina‐Vacas et al, 2020) and Dzanga‐Sangha 1400 mm (Medjibe et al, 2011).…”

“…Some environmental factors are consistent across localities, such as temperature, with averages ranging from 22 to 29°C (Dupain et al, 2004; Head et al, 2012; Mbenoun Masse et al, 2018; Medjibe et al, 2011; Molina‐Vacas et al, 2020). All sites experience two wet seasons yearly, but average annual rainfall varies across localities as follows: Loango 2215 mm (Head et al, 2012), Campo Ma'an 2800 mm (Mbenoun Masse et al, 2018), Dja 1600 mm (Dupain et al, 2004), Odzala‐Kokoua 1200 mm (Molina‐Vacas et al, 2020) and Dzanga‐Sangha 1400 mm (Medjibe et al, 2011). The described differences in habitat and climate among localities probably cause variation in other environmental factors, such as diet diversity and food availability, among surveyed gorilla populations, though empirical and comparable data for all are lacking.…”

Effect of anthropogenic pressure on grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acridomorpha) species diversity in three forests in southern Cameroon

“…Diversity.-Species diversity of grasshoppers was calculated in PAST and expressed as dominance (D), Shannon diversity (H), and evenness (H/Hmax) indexes (Carlo et al 1998, Tadu et al 2013, Marcon 2015, Kekeunou et al 2017, Mbenoun Masse et al 2017, Raghavender and Vastrad 2017. The Shannon index for two samples were compared using the Student t-test (Hutcheson 1970).…”

Morphological variability of Rossiulus kessleri (Diplopoda, Julida) from different biotopes within Steppe Zone of Ukraine

“…They play a key role in the primary decomposition of plant litter, the processes of soil formation and in soil biogeochemical cycle (Striganova, 1980;Gudym, 2016). They interact with fresh, recently fallen leaf-litter in the soil and mechanically grind it, improving the accessibility for treatment by microorganisms (Masse et al, 2018). Diplopoda is one of the largest classes of terrestrial arthropods.…”

“…World fauna has more than 12000 species (Sierwald & Bond, 2007). Only 10-15% of the millipedes species are described for today, while the predicted number of species and subspecies will be about 80000 (Golovatch, 1997; Ukrainian Journal of Ecology, 9(1), 2019 Kime & Enghoff, 2017;Masse et al, 2018).The typical and suitable habitats for millipedes are the deciduous temperate, subtropical and tropical forests where the population density of these animals can reach 1000 individuals per square metre (Golovatch & Kime, 2009;Bogyó et al, 2015). Due to semi-arid conditions of the steppe, the forest is located in geographical and ecological incompatibility.…”