Kouadio Behegbin Habib Herber, Aman Jean Baptiste, and Memel Jean Didié, institute of the Laboratory of Animal Biology and Cytology, Animal Production Research Center, Natural Sciences UFR, Nangui Abrogoua University, Côte d’Ivoire. Wrote a research article about, Seasonal Diversity of Molluscs in Bagoué. Entitled, Diversity of molluscs in the Bagoue region (Côte d’ivoire): Influence of seasons. This research paper published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences | JBES. an open access scholarly research journal on Biodiversity. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.
Abstract
Côte d’Ivoire finds
itself lacking in animal proteins despite the multiple efforts made to achieve
food self-sufficiency for its population. Indeed, natural resources capable of
guaranteeing food security are under pressure from humans (destruction of
forests and wildlife and action of bush fires). Thus, our work was carried out
in the Bagoué region in the north of Côte d’Ivoire. From January 2018 to
December 2019 (2 years), we inventoried 7 species of mollusks divided into 5
families according to the two well-defined dry and rainy seasons. To carry out
our work, the Bagoué region was divided into six zones. We demarcated quadrats
of 200 m² in three villages chosen in each zone. To do this, we searched in the
ground, the litter, on the leaves and tree trunks and then on the trees. The
identification of molluscs was carried out using morphological criteria. Our
study recorded 5089 ± 47.97 Achatina fulica (324 ± 9.13 in dry season and 4765
± 38.84 in rainy season), 1794 ± 17.18 Laristes varicus (144 ± 1.02 in dry
season and 1650 ± 15.97 in rainy season), 991 ± 22.45 Archachatina ventricosa
(40 ± 2.2 in dry season and 951 ± 20.25 in rainy season), 968 ± 9.87 Limicolaria
flammea (9 ± 0.99 in dry season and 959 ± 19.86 in rainy season), 444 ± 2.39 Gabbiella
africana (432 ± 41.12 in dry season and 309 ± 38.21 in rainy season), 271 ±
1.44 Limacus flavus (12 ± 10.11 in dry season and 254 ± 23.28 in rainy season)
and 187 ± 1.21 Mytilis edulis (36 ± 11.20 in dry season and 151 ± 21.02 in
rainy season). At the end of our study, it appears that in the natural
environment, the 7 species of molluscs collected vary according to the seasons.
The populations of Bagoué, through their activities (bush fires, deforestation,
slash-and-burn cultivation) have a considerable impact on the biotope. These
activities could be a danger to the survival of molluscs. Thus, we suggest
raising awareness among populations on environmental protection, strengthening
measures for the protection and conservation of animal and plant species.
Introduction
The degradation of
natural ecosystems is accentuated by the aridity of the climate which has
become a worrying phenomenon in humid tropical zones (Thiombiano, 2005).
Despite this aridity, animal and plant species survive there. Ivory Coast,
particularly in the Bagoué region in the north, in the savannah district, is at
the heart of this daily degradation. For Achard et al. (2002) and Anonymous
(2014), the Ivorian forest has experienced rapid degradation. It increased from
16.5 million hectares in 1960 to 4 million in 2000 and then to 2.97 million
hectares in 2014. According to Brooks et al. (2002) this deforestation results
in the degradation and loss of natural habitats. This is the main cause of the
massive disappearance of species such as molluscs in these environments. The
diversity and distribution of these molluscs are determined by environmental
factors, namely air humidity, temperature, litter thickness, altitude, soil
type (Bruggen, 1969; 1995; Peake, 1978; Tattersfield, 1990; Welter-Schultes,
2000), the type of habitat (Cameron et al., 2007; Memel et al., 2009; Oke and
Chokor, 2009; Tattersfield et al., 2001) and the availability of food resources
(Memel, 2009). Little work has been devoted to the ecology and diversity of
molluscs in Côte d’Ivoire. The oldest work carried out took place at Mount
Nimba in the west of Côte d’Ivoire. Forcart (1953) studied the Veronicidae.
Gaillard (1954) worked on the genus Curvella. Binder (1963; 1976) and Van Mol
(1970) worked on Urocyclidae. Lamotte and Roy (2003) also studied these
mollusks. The most recent work was carried out by (Memel, 2009) on the
Achatinidae family within the Banco National Park. In the Yapo classified
forest, (Amani, 2018) worked on the biodiversity and ecology of Gastropod molluscs.
At the National Floristic Center of Abidjan Cocody (N’dri, 2021) carried out
work on the biodiversity and ecology of terrestrial gastropod molluscs. The
choice of the Bagoué region is justified by the fact that it is subject to
anthropogenic pressures such as the collection of snails by populations, bush
fires, field work, trampling by livestock and the long dry season. In addition,
this study can contribute, for vulnerable species such as Molluscs (Lydeard et
al., 2004; Régnier et al., 2015), or Invertebrates in general (Cardoso et al.,
2011), to their better taken into account in conservation strategies,
particularly in the context of current issues linked to the massive erosion of
biodiversity (Barnosky et al., 2011; Pimm et al., 2014). Knowledge of the
mollusks of this region could strengthen its conservation.
The general objective
of this work is to determine the diversity of molluscs in the said region. It
will be specifically:
1. To study the
physicochemical conditions of the Bagoué region;
2. Make a qualitative (specific diversity) and quantitative (abundance) inventory of molluscs.
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