Show simple item record

Arthropod diversity in Lama forest reserve (South Benin), a mosaic of natural, degraded and plantation forests

dc.contributor.authorLachat, T.
dc.contributor.authorAttignon, S.
dc.contributor.authorDjego, J.
dc.contributor.authorGoergen, Georg E.
dc.contributor.authorNagel, P.
dc.contributor.authorSinsin, B.
dc.contributor.authorPeveling, R.
dc.date.accessioned2019-12-04T11:18:32Z
dc.date.available2019-12-04T11:18:32Z
dc.date.issued2006
dc.identifier.citationLachat, T., Attignon, S., Djego, J., Goergen, G., Nagel, P., Sinsin, B. & Peveling, R. (2006). Arthropod diversity in Lama forest reserve (South Benin), a mosaic of natural, degraded and plantation forests. Biodiversity and Conservation, 15(1), 3-23.
dc.identifier.issn0960-3115
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12478/3240
dc.description.abstractArthropod assemblages were examined in Lama forest reserve, a protected area situated in the Dahomey gap, southern Benin, composed of plantations, degraded forest and remnants of natural forest. The objectives were to compare assemblages in relation to forest type and use, to elucidate the value of forest plantations for biodiversity conservation and to identify indicator species for specific forest habitats. Arthropods were collected over an 11-month period, using standardized sets of traps (pitfall, emergence, Malaise and flight intercept traps). Nine different habitats were studied, including natural and degraded forest, forest plantations (Tectona grandis and Senna siamea) of different age, and isolated forest fragments. Our analysis focused on detritivorous and xylophagous arthropods but also included ground beetles and heteropterans, totalling 393 species. We found no differences in species richness among natural and degraded forest habitats in the centre of the reserve (Noyau central). Outside of the Noyau central, species richness was highest in old teak plantations and isolated forest fragments and lowest in young teak and fuelwood plantations. Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) separated three main groups: (1) natural forest, (2) degraded forest and young plantations, and (3) old plantations and isolated forest fragments. Multiple regression of DCA scores of the first two axes on environmental variables identified one natural and three disturbance-related predictors of arthropod assemblages in Lama forest: soil type (texture), canopy height, naturalness (proportion of Guineo-Congolian plant species) and understorey vegetation cover. We identified 15 indicator species for six different forest habitats. The highest numbers were found in abandoned settlements and old teak plantations. β-diversity was similar among the three DCA ordination groups (degraded forest excluded). Values for β-diversity were relatively high, suggesting that all major forest habitats contribute significantly to regional species pools and should therefore be protected. To enhance arthropod diversity, we propose that management practices in Lama forest should aim to encourage the development of species-rich understorey vegetation of the Guineo-Congolian phytogeographical region.
dc.description.sponsorshipSwiss National Science Foundation
dc.description.sponsorshipSwiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectArthropod Assemblages
dc.subjectBiodiversity Conservation
dc.subjectDahomey Gap
dc.subjectDegraded Forest
dc.subjectForest Plantations
dc.subjectIndicator Species
dc.subjectNatural Forest
dc.titleArthropod diversity in Lama forest reserve (South Benin), a mosaic of natural, degraded and plantation forests
dc.typeJournal Article
dc.description.versionPeer Review
cg.contributor.affiliationUniversität Basel
cg.contributor.affiliationUniversité d'Abomey Calavi
cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture
cg.coverage.regionAfrica
cg.coverage.regionWest Africa
cg.coverage.countryBenin
cg.isijournalISI Journal
cg.authorship.typesCGIAR and developing country institute
cg.iitasubjectForestry
cg.iitasubjectBiodiversity
cg.accessibilitystatusLimited Access
local.dspaceid94914
cg.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10531-004-1234-6


Files in this item

Thumbnail
Name:
S06ArtLachatArthropodInthomDev.pdf
Size:
288.2Kb
Format:
PDF
View/Open

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record