Rapid survey of Dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata) of Kribi forest and Campo Ma'am national Park, Southern Cameroon

Abstract

A five day survey was carried out to assess the odonate fauna associated with the riverine sections of two forests (Kribi Forest and Campo Ma’am National Park) of southern Cameroon. The primary objective of the study was to determine the species composition and community structure of the odonate fauna occurring in the forests. The goal is to infer the health status of the two forests. Three study sites were selected, one in each of the main water bodies in the forests (Rivers Kienke and Linde in Kribi forest, and River Bitande in Campo Ma’am National Park). All the specimens collected were identified to the lowest taxonomic level. A total of one hundred and ninety four (194) individuals of Odonata were collected in the forests comprising 10 families, 24 species of Anisoptera and 30 species of Zygoptera. Anthropogenic activities were less prevalent at Campo Ma’am National Park, an area in which all the 10 families were incidentally recorded.The community structure of the southern forest revealed that only River Bitande with Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H`) of 3.80 was having a stable environmental condition. Others were close to stable condition (River Kienke H` 2.99 and River Linde H` 2.95) with mild disturbance caused by human activity. Simpson index range (0.94 – 0.98) at the three study sites revealed that the vegetation was matured and stable. The distribution of dragonflies and damselflies revealed a stable environment (Evenness 0.90 – 0.95). Kribi Forest appears to be more impacted by anthropogenic activities as fewer (six) families were recorded there. The relative distribution of the species in the two forest ecosystems seemed to have some relationship with human interference therein.

 Key Words: Damselfly, Dragonfly, Diversity, Forest, River