Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-xbtfd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-15T09:24:07.550Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Short-term changes in the structure of ant assemblages in a Guinean savanna under differing fire regimes at Lamto Scientific Reserve, Côte d'Ivoire

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 September 2018

Mouhamadou Kone ,
Kanvaly Dosso ,
Christine Dakele Yode ,
Akissi Evelyne Kouakou ,
Aya Brigitte N'dri ,
N'Golo Abdoulaye Kone ,
Julien Kouadio N'dri ,
Wouter Dekoninck  and
Sebastien Barot
Mouhamadou Kone*
Affiliation:
Université Peleforo Gon Coulibaly, UFR des Sciences Biologiques, BP 1328 Korhogo, Côte d'Ivoire
Kanvaly Dosso
Affiliation:
Université Nangui Abrogoua, UFR des Sciences de la Nature, Unité de Recherche Ecologie et Biodiversité, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Côte d'Ivoire
Christine Dakele Yode
Affiliation:
Université Nangui Abrogoua, UFR des Sciences de la Nature, Unité de Recherche Ecologie et Biodiversité, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Côte d'Ivoire
Akissi Evelyne Kouakou
Affiliation:
Université Nangui Abrogoua, UFR des Sciences de la Nature, Unité de Recherche Ecologie et Biodiversité, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Côte d'Ivoire
Aya Brigitte N'dri
Affiliation:
Université Nangui Abrogoua, UFR des Sciences de la Nature, Unité de Recherche Ecologie et Biodiversité, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Côte d'Ivoire
N'Golo Abdoulaye Kone
Affiliation:
Université Nangui Abrogoua, UFR des Sciences de la Nature, Unité de Recherche Ecologie et Biodiversité, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Côte d'Ivoire
Julien Kouadio N'dri
Affiliation:
Université Nangui Abrogoua, UFR des Sciences de la Nature, Unité de Recherche Ecologie et Biodiversité, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Côte d'Ivoire
Wouter Dekoninck
Affiliation:
Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, OD Taxonomy and Phylogeny, Rue Vautier 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
Sebastien Barot
Affiliation:
Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR 137, 32 Avenue H. Varagnat, 93143 Bondy, France, Institut of Ecology and Environmental SciencesUPMC-UMR CR4/CNRS-UMR 7618/IRD-UMR242/INRA-UMR 1392, Paris, France
*
*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract:

To maintain savanna vegetation, mid-seasonal fire has been applied since 1961 in the Lamto Savanna (Côte 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.

Keywords

antsearly fireLamtolate firemid-seasonal firesavanna
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 34 , Issue 5 , September 2018 , pp. 326 - 335
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

LITERATURE CITED

ABBADIE, L., GIGNOUX, J., LE ROUX, X. & LEPAGE, M. 2006. Lamto: structure, functioning and dynamics of a savanna ecosystem. Springer Verlag, New York. 412 pp.Google Scholar
AGOSTI, D. & ALONSO, L. E. 2000. The ALL protocol: a standard protocol for the collection of ground-dwelling ants. Pp. 204–206 in Agosti, D., Majer, J. D., Alonso, L. E. & Schultz, T. R. (eds). Ants: standard methods for measuring and monitoring biodiversity. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
ANDERSEN, A. N. 1988. Immediate and longer term effects of fire on seed predation by ants in sclerophyllous vegetation in southeastern Australia. Australian Journal of Ecology 13:285–293.Google Scholar
ANDERSEN, A. N. 1990. The use of ant communities to evaluate change in Australian terrestrial ecosystems: a review and a recipe. Proceedings of the Ecological Society of Australia 16:347–357.Google Scholar
ANDERSEN, A.N. 1991. Sampling communities of ground foraging ants: pitfall catches compared with quadrat counts in an Australian tropical savanna. Australian Journal of Ecology 16: 273–279.Google Scholar
ANDERSEN, A. N. 1993. Ants as indicators of restoration success at uranium mine in tropical Australia. Restoration Ecology 1:156–167.Google Scholar
ANDERSEN, A. N. & YEN, A. L. 1985. Immediate effects of fire on ants in the mallee of north-western Victoria. Austral Ecology 10:25–30.Google Scholar
ANDREW, N., RODGERSON, L. & YORK, A. 2000. Frequent fuel-reduction burning: the role of logs and associated leaf litter in the conservation of ant biodiversity. Austral Ecology 25:99–107.Google Scholar
BESTELMEYER, B. T., AGOSTI, D., ALONSO, L., BRANDÃO, C. R. F., BROWN, L.W., DELABIE, J. H. C. & SILVESTRE, R. 2000. Field techniques for the study of ground dwelling ants. Pp. 122–144 in Agosti, D., Majer, J., Alonso, L. E., Schultz, T. R. (eds). Ants: standard methods for measuring and monitoring biodiversity. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
BLAIR, J. M. 1997. Fire, N availability and plant response in grasslands: a test of the transient maxima hypothesis. Ecology 78:2359–2368.Google Scholar
BOLTON, B. 1973. The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in the Ethiopian region (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Entomology 28:285–369.Google Scholar
BOLTON, B. 1976. The ant tribe Tetramoriini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Constituent genera, review of smaller genera and review of Triglyphothrix Forel. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Entomology 34:283–379.Google Scholar
BOLTON, B. 1982. Afrotropical species of the Myrmicine ant genera Cardiocondyla, Lepthothorax, Melissotarsus, Messor and Cataulacus (Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Entomology 45:307–370.Google Scholar
BOLTON, B. 1986. A taxonomic and biological review of the tetramoriine ant genus Rhoptromyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Systematic Entomology 11:1–17.Google Scholar
BOLTON, B. 1987. A revision of the Solenopsis genus-group and revision of Afrotropical Monomorium Mayr (Hymenoptera). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Entomology 54:263–452.Google Scholar
BOLTON, B. 1994. Identification guide to ant genera of the world. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA. 504 pp.Google Scholar
BOLTON, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65:1–1028.Google Scholar
BOLTON, B. 2003. Synopsis and classification of Formicidae. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 71:1–370.Google Scholar
BOLTON, B. & FISHER, B. L. 2011. Taxonomy of Afrotropical and West Palaearctic ants of the ponerine genus Hypoponera Santschi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 2843:1–118.Google Scholar
BOND, W. J. & KEELEY, J. 2005. Fire as a global ‘herbivore’: the ecology and evolution of flammable ecosystems. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 20:387–394.Google Scholar
BROWN, J. W. L. 1978. Contribution toward a reclassification of the Formicidae. Part VI. Ponerinae, tribe Ponerini, subtribe Odontomachiti. Section B. genus Anochetus and bibliography. Studia Entomologica 20:1–4.Google Scholar
BUCKLEY, R. C. 1982. Ant-plant interactions: a world review. Pp.111–141 in Buckley, R. C. (ed.). Ant–plant interactions in Australia. W. Junk Publishers, The Hague.Google Scholar
DAUGET, J. M. & MENAUT, J. C. 1992. Evolution sur 20 ans d'une parcelle de savane boisée non protégée du feu dans la réserve de Lamto (Côte d'Ivoire). Candollea 47:621–630.Google Scholar
DEMBÉLÉ, A. 2008. Distribution spatiale et dynamique d'un peuplement d'arbres dans une savane humide annuellement soumise au feu (Lamto, Côte-d'Ivoire). Mémoire de Maîtrise de l'Université d'Abobo-Adjamé, Côte d'Ivoire. 34 pp.Google Scholar
DOSSO, K., KONATE, S., AIDARA, D. & LINSENMAIR, K. E. 2010. Termite diversity and abundance across fire-induced habitat variability in a tropical moist savanna (Lamto, Central Côte d'Ivoire) Journal of Tropical Ecology 26:323–334.Google Scholar
FISHER, B. L. 1998. Ant diversity patterns along an elevational gradient in the Réserve Spéciale d'Anjanaharibe-Sud and on the Western Masoala Peninsula, Madagascar. Fieldiana Zoology 90: 39–67.Google Scholar
GAUTIER, L. 1990. Contact forêt-savane en Côte d'Ivoire centrale: évolution du recouvrement ligneux des savanes de la réserve de Lamto (sud du V Baoulé). Candollea 45:627–641.Google Scholar
GIGNOUX, J., CLOBERT, J. & MENAUT, J. C. 1997. Alternative fire resistance strategy in savanna trees. Oecologia 110:576–583.Google Scholar
GIGNOUX, J., LAHOREAU, G., JULIARD, R. & BAROT, S. 2009. Establishment and early persistence of tree seedlings in an annually burned savanna. Journal of Ecology 97:484–495.Google Scholar
GILLON, D. 1983. The problem in tropical savannas. Pp. 617–641 in Bourlière, F. (ed.). Tropical savannas. Elsevier, Amsterdam.Google Scholar
HETERICK, B. E., LYTHE, M. & SMITHYMAN, C. 2013. Urbanisation factors impacting on ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) biodiversity in the Perth metropolitan area, Western Australia: two case studies. Urban Ecosystem 16:145–173.Google Scholar
HÖLLDOBLER, B. & WILSON, E. O. 1990. The ants. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA. 732 pp.Google Scholar
JOSENS, G., DOSSO, K. & KONATE, S. 2016. Lenticular mounds in the African savannahs can originate from ancient Macrotermes mounds. Insectes Sociaux 63:373–379.Google Scholar
KONÉ, M., KONATE, S., YEO, K., KOUASSI, K. P. & LINSENMAIR, K. E. 2012. Changes in ant communities along an age gradient of cocoa cultivation (Oume region, central Côte d'Ivoire). Entomological Science 5:324–339.Google Scholar
LEVIEUX, J. 1971. Mise en évidence de la structure des nids et de l'implantation des zones de chasse de deux espèces de Camponotus (Hym. Form.) à l'aide de radio-isotopes. Insectes Sociaux 18:29–48.Google Scholar
LEVIEUX, J. 1983. The soil fauna of tropical savannas. IV. The ants. Pp. 525–540 in Bourlière, F. (ed.). Tropical savannas. Elsevier, Amsterdam.Google Scholar
MAJER, J. D. 1983. Ants: bio-indicators of minesite rehabilitation, landuse, and land conservation. Environmental Management 7:375–385.Google Scholar
MARTIN, J. E. H. 1983. Les insectes et arachnides du Canada, partie 1: récolte, préparation et conservation des insectes, des acariens et des araignées. Direction générale de la recherche, Agriculture Canada, Publication 1643, Ottawa.Google Scholar
MENAUT, J. C. & ABBADIE, L. 2006. Vegetation. Pp. 63–72 in Abbadie, L., Gignoux, J., Le Roux, X. & Lepage, M. (eds). Lamto: structure, functioning and dynamics of a savanna ecosystem. Springer Verlag, NewYork.Google Scholar
MORDELET, P. 1993. Influence of tree shading on carbon assimilation of grass leaves in Lamto savanna, Cote d'Ivoire. Acta Oecologica 14:119–127.Google Scholar
NEW, T. R. 2000. How useful are ant assemblages for monitoring habitat disturbance on grasslands in south eastern Australia? Journal of Insect Conservation 4:153–159.Google Scholar
N'DRI, A. B., GIGNOUX, J., DEMBELE, A. & KONATE, S. 2012. Short term effects of fire intensity and fire regime on vegetation dynamic in a tropical humid savanna (Lamto, central Côte d'Ivoire). Natural Science 4:1056–1064.Google Scholar
N'DRI, A. B., GIGNOUX, J., BAROT, S., DEMBELE, A. & WERNER, P. A. 2014. The dynamics of hollowing in annually burnt savanna trees and its effect on adult tree mortality. Plant Ecology 2015:27–37.Google Scholar
OSTOJA, S. M. & SCHUPP, E. W. 2009. Conversion of sagebrush shrublands to exotic annual grasslands negatively impacts small mammal communities. Diversity and Distributions 15:863–870.Google Scholar
PARR, C. L., ROBERTSON, H., BIGGS, H. C. & CHOWN, S. L. 2004. Response of African savanna ants to long-term fire regimes. Journal of Applied Ecology 41:630–642.Google Scholar
SATYAM, V. & JAYAKUMAR, S. 2012. Impact of forest fire on physical, chemical and biological properties of soil: a review. Proceedings of the International Academy of Ecology and Environmental Sciences 2:168–176.Google Scholar
SILVEIRA, J. M., LOUZADA, J., BARLOW, J., ANDRADE, R., MESTRE, L., SOLAR, R., LACAU, S. & COCHRANE, M. A. 2016. A multi-taxa assessment of biodiversity change after single and recurrent wildfires in a Brazilian Amazon forest. Biotropica 48:170–180.Google Scholar
STEWARD, F. R., PETER, S. & RICHON, J. B. 1990. A method for predicting the depth of lethal heat penetration into mineral soil exposed to fires of various intensities. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 20:919–926.Google Scholar
UNDERWOOD, E. C. & FISHER, B. L. 2006. The role of ants in conservation monitoring: if, when, and how. Biological Conservation 132:166–182.Google Scholar
VAN WILGEN, B., GOVENDER, N. & BIGGS, H. 2007. The contribution of fire research to fire management: a critical review of a long-term experiment in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. International Journal of Wildland Fire 16:519–530.Google Scholar
WHELAN, R. J. 1995. The ecology of fire. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 346 pp.Google Scholar
WILLIAMS, R. J., COOK, G. D., GILL, A. M. & MOORE, P. H. R. 1999. Fire regime, fire intensity and tree survivals in a tropical savanna in northern Australia. Australian Journal of Ecology 24, 50–59.Google Scholar
WILSON, E. 1987. Causes of ecological success: the case of the ants. Animal Ecology 56:1–9.Google Scholar