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Type: Article
Published: 2020-01-21
Page range: 16-33
Abstract views: 2589
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Diversity, abundance and distribution of grasshopper species (Orthoptera: Acrididea) in three different types of vegetation with different levels of anthropogenic disturbances in the Littoral Region of Cameroon

Zoology Unit, Graduate School of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, University of Douala, Cameroon; College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, China
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YETCHOM-FONDJO JEANNE AGRIPPINE

Department of Animal Biology and Physiology ; College of Life Sciences; PhD student
Laboratory of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaounde I
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KEKEUNOU - SÉVILOR

Department of Animal Biology; Associate Professor
Zoology Unit, Graduate School of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, University of Douala, Cameroon
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KENNE - MARTIN

Department of Animal Biology and Physiology; Associate Professor
Zoology Unit, Graduate School of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, University of Douala, Cameroon
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MISSOUP ALAIN DIDIER

Department of Animal Biology and Physiology; Lecturer
College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, China
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SHENG-QUAN XU

College of Life Sciences; Full Professor
Grasshopper diversity abundance distribution bioindicator ever-green forests.

Abstract

Grasshoppers have been identified as excellent monitors of landscape use. Despite their importance, their composition and distribution in the highly disturbed Littoral Cameroon is still unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of human activities on diversity, abundance and distribution of grasshopper species in the Littoral region of Cameron. We investigated three types of vegetation differing remarkably on the level of anthropogenic impact (farmlands, fallows and forests), using sweep netting. The eight non-parametric estimators for specific richness, abundance, α and β diversity indices and species abundance distribution models, were used to compare the structure of communities among vegetation. Overall, 38 species belonging to three families and ten subfamilies were recorded. The Acrididae was the most diverse family. The species richness, abundance and diversity were higher in farmlands than in fallows and in forests. Five species occurred exclusively in farmlands, one in fallows and four in forests. Eyprepocnemis plorans, Coryphosima stenoptera, Serpusia opacula were overall the most abundant species respectively in cultivated farms, fallows and forests. Species abundance distribution fitted the Motomura model in all sites. Serpusia opacula is considered as a useful indicator since its presence and abundance significantly depend on the rate of forest naturalness. The farmlands were characterized by short vegetation while the fallows and forests were dominated by tall grasses and tall trees respectively. Anthropogenic disturbances promote the species richness, diversity and abundance of open meadow species, while it is detrimental to forest species which are sensitive, specialized and have limited dispersal abilities.

 

Key words: Grasshopper, diversity, abundance, distribution, bioindicator

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