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Invertebrate conservation at the interface between the grassland matrix and natural Afromontane forest fragments

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Abstract

Diversity patterns of amphipods, carabid beetles and ants were investigated in five naturally-fragmented Afromontane forest remnants, and in the surrounding grassland matrix. Forests were architecturally similar. In contrast, grasslands surrounding these forests are subject to great differences in anthropogenic impacts. Consequently, transition from forest to grassland ranged from being abrupt (heavy disturbance) to gradual (little disturbance). Significantly different mean numbers of carabid individuals and species were captured between sites and multivariate analyses showed clear separation in carabid assemblage-structure with level of disturbance. Carabids were, furthermore, significantly more diverse in forests, compared to grasslands. Ants, however, were equally species rich between sites but were significantly more abundant and species rich in grasslands than forests. Amphipods, represented here by a single species, Talistroides africana, was significantly less abundant at highly disturbed sites and significantly more abundant in forests than grasslands. Results support the hypothesis that the dynamics of remnants are influenced by their surrounding landscape. Here, the dynamics of amphipods and carabids (predominantly forest taxa) were influenced by different disturbance regimes in grasslands surrounding these forests. Epigaeic ants, a predominantly grassland taxon here, also showed significant differences in assemblage-composition between sites with varying disturbance. Conserving Afromontane grasslands should be of prime concern because this will include the protection of forest/grassland ecotones and forest remnants.

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Author notes

  1. D.J. Kotze

    Present address: Department of Ecology and Systematics, University of Helsinki, PO Box 17, FIN-00014, Finland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Invertebrate Conservation Research Centre, School of Botany and Zoology, University of Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

    D.J. Kotze & M.J. Samways

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  1. D.J. Kotze
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  2. M.J. Samways
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Kotze, D., Samways, M. Invertebrate conservation at the interface between the grassland matrix and natural Afromontane forest fragments. Biodiversity and Conservation 8, 1339–1363 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008945302029

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