EFFECT OF INSECTICIDE TREATMENT ON ARBOREAL ANT COMMUNITY STRUCTURE IN SMALL HOLDER COCOA FARM IN THE CENTRE REGION OF CAMEROON
ZEPHIRIN TADU *
Laboratory of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, P.O.Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
. YEDE
Laboratory of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, P.O.Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
REGIS BABIN
CIRAD, UPR Bioagresseurs Analyse et Maîtrise du Risque, F-34398 Montpellier, France and International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P.O.Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
DESIREE CHANTAL ALENE
Laboratory of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, P.O.Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
EDITH BLANDINE MESSOP-YOUBI
Laboratory of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, P.O.Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon and Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O.Box 63, Buea, Cameroon.
WOUTER DEKONINCK
Royal Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium.
CHAMPLAIN DJIETO-LORDON
Laboratory of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, P.O.Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
To understand the effect of anthropogenic disturbances, mainly related to insecticide treatment on ant community structure, the present study was conducted on Cameroonian cocoa farms during two consecutive crop cycles. Ant sampling was based on chemical knock down in three smallholding cocoa farms selected in three different agro-ecological zones in the Centre Region of Cameroon. The C-score was used for null model analysis in order to detect deterministic factor of ant community structure and Spearman correlation test to screen relationship between pair species. Seven ant species were identified as a numerically dominant: Crematogaster clariventris, Crematogaster gabonensis, Crematogaster striatula, Camponotus vividus, Cataulacus guineensis, Tetramorium aculeatum and Oecophylla longinoda. Ant communities were structured by the competition and negative relationship were found between dominant species. Insecticide-treatments affected the ant community structure by favoring the acquisition of the dominant status by non-dominant species.
Keywords: Ant, cocoa farm, competition, dominant species