To What Extent do Mango Agrosystems (Mangifera indica, Anacardiaceae) Contribute to the Restoration of Hypogenous Termites (Insecta: Isoptera) in Korhogo Region (Northern Côte d'Ivoire)?

Abstract

The conversion of natural ecosystems to agriculture is recognized as the current major cause of biodiversity loss. Given large expanses of land that is under agriculture worldwide, this study, carried out in 2013, aimed to examine the contribution of mango orchards to the restoration of hypogenous termite in northern Côte d'Ivoire. Using the TSBF (Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility) monolith method of soil macrofauna estimation, termites were collected in seven age classes of mango tree orchards (class 1: <5 years; class 2: 5–9 years; class 3: 10–14 years; class 4: 15–19 years; class 5: 20–24 years; class 6: 25–29 years; class 7: 30 years and over) and compared with termites collected from the savannah. A total of 16 species of termite were collected in all the study plots. The species richness, low in young orchards of classes 1 and 2 (05 species), increases to reach its maximum in old orchards of more than 30 years (13 species). These old orchards would be even richer and more diversified in termite species than savannah (10 species). Termites were less abundant in young orchard of class 1 (151.33±87.35 Individuals/m2) and more abundant in the old orchards of class 7 (344.88±119.90 ind./ m2). In the young orchards of class 1, termites were more prevalent in the 20-30 cm depth (7.92%) and in the old orchards of class 7, termites were found more at the surface between 0-10 cm depth (67.26%). Soil-feeders were absent in the young orchards but were abundant in the old orchard of class 7 (519 individuals). This study showed that in this highly disturbed region, mango orchards are re-colonized by termite communities. These results encourage the establishment of mango orchards to allow natural regeneration after agricultural disturbances.