Diversity and spatio-temporal distribution of the myriapodofauna in four habitat types along an urban-rural gradient in Douala (Littoral, Cameroon)

This study aims to provide updated information on the myriapodofauna of different habitat types in Douala. Data were collected from September 2018 to February 2019 in four types of vegetation chosen following an urban-rural gradient: home gardens, fallow land, agrosystems and secondary forest. Sampling took place every 2 weeks using hand collection, pitfall and Winkler technique. Analysis of the diversity within the communities studied consisted in generating indices of alpha- and beta-diversity. A total of 904 individuals of 26 species and three classes were collected. Hand collection was more effective in collecting myriapods (62.3% of individuals collected and 26 species) than pitfall trapping (28.9%; 25 species) and Winkler (8.9%; eight species). The class of diplopods was the richest in species (22 species) and the most abundant (88.4% of the total number of individuals collected). It was followed by chilopods (three species and 7.0%) and symphylans (one species and 4.6%). The myriapodofauna of the forest (Shannon-Weaver index: H' = 2.93) was more diversified than that of agrosystems (H' = 2.22), fallow land (H' = 1.56) and home gardens (H' = 0.97). The secondary forest and agrosystems had the greatest species turnover, while the agrosystems and home gardens had the lowest. This study showed that myriapod diversity is affected by habitat type and season.