Kone M., Dosso K., Yode C. D., Kouakou A. E., N'Dri A. B., Kone N. A., N'Dri J. K., Dekoninck W., Barot Sébastien. (2018). Short-term changes in the structure of ant assemblages in a Guinean savanna under differing fire regimes at Lamto Scientific Reserve, Cote d'Ivoire. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 34 (5), p. 326-335. ISSN 0266-4674.
Titre du document
Short-term changes in the structure of ant assemblages in a Guinean savanna under differing fire regimes at Lamto Scientific Reserve, Cote d'Ivoire
Année de publication
2018
Auteurs
Kone M., Dosso K., Yode C. D., Kouakou A. E., N'Dri A. B., Kone N. A., N'Dri J. K., Dekoninck W., Barot Sébastien
Source
Journal of Tropical Ecology, 2018,
34 (5), p. 326-335 ISSN 0266-4674
To maintain savanna vegetation, mid-seasonal fire has been applied since 1961 in the Lamto Savanna (Cote d'Ivoire). However, this prescribed fire has not impeded tree encroachment during recent years, nor have its effects on insect assemblages been documented. Also the impact of tree intrusion on insect assemblages is poorly studied in savanna. To prevent tree density increasing, a change in fire regime might be a solution. In this study, we examined the effect of different fire regimes (early, mid-seasonal and late fires) on leaf-litter ant assemblages in order to suggest appropriate measures for preventing tree invasion without having an effect on insect communities. Sampling was implemented by combining pitfall trapping and leaf-litter sampling before and after three different fire regimes, early, mid-seasonal and late fires. While the ant species richness declined after the passage of early and mid-seasonal fires, significantly more species were found in the burnt savanna after the late fire. However, the losses or gains of species due to different fire regimes did not cause severe changes in the ant species composition. Of the functional groups identified, only the generalists and specialist predators were respectively strongly affected by the early and mid-seasonal fires, certainly due to micro-habitat modification. Based on the trends observed in the present study, we suggest sampling other invertebrate fauna in similar savanna plots to find out if other insect groups have similar reactions to the applied fire regimes.
Plan de classement
Sciences du monde animal [080]
;
Etudes, transformation, conservation du milieu naturel [082]
Description Géographique
COTE D'IVOIRE ; LAMTO ; ZONE GUINEENNE
Localisation
Fonds IRD [F B010073996]
Identifiant IRD
fdi:010073996
