Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences
J. Anim. Plant Sci. [ISSN 2071 - 7024]
Volume 6 (1): 589 - 596. Published February 25, 2010.
Assessment of beetle abundance and diversity by four methods of capture in the west-central part of Oumé, Ivory Coast
Dagobert Kouadio Kra, Mamadou Doumbia, Jan Klimaszewski,
1UFR/SN, Biology Laboratory and Animal Cytology, University Abobo-Adjamé, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Ivory Coast.; 14 BP 600, Abidjan); 2 Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Laurentian Forestry Centre, 1055 du P.E.P.S., P.O. Box 10380, Stn. Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Quebec G1V 4C7, Canada
*Corresponding author: e-mail: luckaskra@yahoo.frSUMMARY
Different methods of trapping for insect biodiversity related investigations are recommended, depending on the biological group studied. The aim of this study was to compare the efficiency of four trapping methods in capturing beetles in relation to habitat. The methods were: (1) yellow ground traps, (2) yellow aerial traps, (3) Malaise traps and (4) pitfall traps. We collected samples in 8 land use types: (i) primary forests (PF), (ii) secondary forests (SF), (iii) multi-species plantations (MP), (iv) 10-year-old teak plantations (TK10), (v) 4-year-old teak plantations (TK4), (vi) rural fallows (FA), (vii) mixed-crop fields (MC) and (viii) cocoa plantations (CC). Those used were 31 traps/site: 10 pitfall traps, 10 yellow ground traps, 9 yellow aerial traps and 2 Malaise traps. The traps captured 2195 specimens of Coleoptera (Malaise traps - 787 specimens, pitfall traps - 406 specimens, yellow aerial traps - 487 specimens, and yellow ground traps – 515 specimens). The Malaise and pitfall traps collected the highest number of specimens in mixed-crop fields. The yellow ground traps and yellow aerial traps collected the highest number of specimens in cocoa plantations and in primary forests. Beetle abundance and diversity varied according to the trap and the land use type. Although Malaise traps collected more families and individuals, combining different traps is recommended for the best representation of Coleopteran taxa.
Key words: Beetle, diversity, efficiency, traps
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