Authors:
Alexandre A. M. AKPESSE
, Tenon COULIBALY, N'Guessan G. R. YAO
,
Yao K. S. DIBY
, Herve K. KOUA |
Abstract:
Termites are the major component of soil macrofauna and influence soil structure in tropical
regions. This study aims to evaluate their assemblage in the cocoa plantations of the S.A.B.
station. (Agricultural Society of Bandama). Using a standardized method of rapid biodiversity
estimation, termites were collected, from an 8-year-old plot of cocoa in comparison with primary
forest. A total of 19 species of termite grouped into 12 genera were collected in these two areas.
The results obtained show that the species richness is relatively low in the cocoa plantation
compared to the primary forest (18 species). The Shannon index was high in the forest (H '=
2.05) while the cocoa plantation has a low Shannon index (1.59). A higher relative abundance of
termites was observed in the forest with an average of 1.93 ind./sections versus 1.23ind / section
for the cocoa plantation. Termites harvested in the cocoa plantation were dominated by fungusgrowers who account for 86% of the total abundance of termite. This study showed that despite
the previous pineapple, with the massive use of chemical inputs, the cocoa plot records more
than half of the species observed in the forest. The cocoa plantation would contribute to the
regeneration of the termite diversity in this area heavily disturbed by the pineapple crop. |
