Fruit feeding Cetoniinae community structure in an anthropogenic landscape in West Africa

Abstract

The potential contribution of palm plantations to the conservation of forest-dwelling Cetoniinae (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) is assessed in southern Benin. Sample plots of 10 aerial traps per habitat type were set in two sites containing a forest patch, a palm plantation and some agricultural land. Overall, 2,217 individuals belonging to 31 species were collected. Typical species of each habitat were identified with the IndVal method (Dufrene and Legendre 1997). Species were categorized into three habitat-groups: forest specialists (11 species), farmland and open habitat specialists (9 species) and ubiquitous, generalist species found in all habitats (5 species). Only six species were too rare for assessing habitat preference. Palm plantations host a low density of Cetoniinae with no unique species. However, species composition reveals that they are used by forest specialist species that avoid open habitats like farmlands, therefore providing structural connectivity. Cetoniine flower beetles have potential as an indicator group, which can be used in multi-taxa approaches for habitat assessments in Africa. Using species-level metrics, their response to habitat change is clear, including the response of common species. This method is selective, cost-effective in time and materials, and species identification is rather straightforward.