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Paul Serge Mbenoun Massé

  • Biodiversity Journal, 16 (2): 197-210

    Samuel Didier Makon, Wuibe Woubassie Ulrich Sidoine, Paul Arnaud Mballa Ndzie, Giovanni Oscar Titti Ebangue & Paul Serge Mbenoun Massé
    Alpha and beta diversity and distribution pattern of millipedes (Myriapoda Diplopoda) along an altitudinal gradient in Southern Cameroon rainforest
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2025.16.2.197.210

    ABSTRACT
    Mountainous regions serve as critical ecosystems that promote endemism and serve as biodiversity hotspots, supporting a wide array of species, including millipedes. As one of the most important bioindicator groups, millipedes are particularly sensitive to habitat loss and tend to thrive in specific ecological niches. This study investigates the influence of altitudinal gradient on the community structure and assemblages of millipedes in southern Cameroon rainforest. Millipedes were sampled using a combination of pitfall traps, quadrat sampling, and litter sifting across three distinct elevational zones and vegetation types (0–400 m, 401–800 m, and 801–1200 m above sea level). A total of 994 individuals representing 71 species, 4 orders, 12 families, and 41 genera were recorded. The order Polydesmida was the most abundant and diverse (comprising 60.56% of the total sample and 35 species), followed by Spirostreptida (28.67% and 31 species) and Spirobolida (9.25% and 4 species). Cryptodesmidae was the most abundant family, while the least abundant was Spirostreptidae. The most abundant species was Aporodesmus gabonicus (29.38%), followed by Kartinikus colonus (7.75%) and Aporodesmus falcatus (5.73%). Along the altitudinal gradient, the millipede diversity increased slightly from lower level (H1’ = 1.32±0.15) (0-400 m asl) to transitional level (H2’ = 1.56±0.13) (401-800 m asl), and reached a maximum in upper level (H3’ = 1.98±0.18) (801 m to 1200 m asl). This distribution pattern of millipede in diversity suggests biotic homogenization as main factor leading to the weak dissimilarity of species between different altitudinal zones and the replacement of habitat specific species by opportunist or cosmopolitan species. This study provides valuable insights into the biogeography of millipede species along altitudinal gradients and offers essential information that could inform future conservation strategies aimed at preserving these sensitive ecosystems.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 14 (2): 0275-0291

    Paul Serge Mbenoun Massé
    An annotated checklist of the Millipedes (Myriapoda Diplopoda) of Cameroon, with several new species and distribution records
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2023.14.2.275.291

    ABSTRACT
    An annotated checklist of the Millipedes hitherto documented from Cameroon is provided after 128 years, based both on old and recent records. A total of 106 species in 5 orders, 15 families and 41 genera are known yet from Cameroon. This class of Myriapoda is very rich, with more than 70% of the species being likely to be endemic to the country. Twenty-three new distribution records and 31 new species recently described are also provided. Although the present list is provisional and insufficient, it aims to offer a basis for further studies on Cameroonian millipede fauna.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 12 (1): 0179-0194

    Paul Serge Mbenoun Massé, G.L. Mendoua Ebolo, G. Ebangue Titti & R. Mony
    Ant species richness, abundance and functional groups along an elevation gradient in Central Cameroon
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2021.12.1.179.194

    ABSTRACT
    Of all leaf litter-dwelling arthropods, ants are highly diverse, abundant, easy to sample, and thought to be sensitive to environmental changes. In central Africa, ant diversity patterns along the elevational gradients are poorly studied compared to latitudinal gradients. In this study, we evaluated the species richness, abundance and functional groups at Mount Eloundem. Ants were surveyed by pitfall trapping, baiting, Winkler extraction and quadrat sampling from September 2018 to April 2019. A total of 151 morphospecies in 9 sub-families and 42 genera were recorded from all four elevations. Twenty percent of identified species were found to be endemic to the study region while 80% have been introduced to the fauna of Cameroon. The army ant, Dorylus (Anomma) nigricans, was the most abundant ant species (51.46%). Ant richness and abundance were highest at both lower (800 and 900 m) and higher elevational bands (1000 and 1150 m) and lowest at moderate elevational bands (900 and 1000 m). Higher similarity of ant species among elevations indicated low species turnover. Six functional groups were found at different elevations, with the “Opportunists’’ being the most abundant group. Our findings demonstrate the predominance of opportunist, non-native or tramp species and a decline in native ant species along the elevational gradients. This study suggests that the loss of native habitat facilitate the establishment of tramp species, and might lead to homogenisation in ant community composition and functional groups. These results also have implications for management of the low altitude mountains in Central Africa.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 11 (3): 671-678

    Paul Serge Mbenoun Massé & Samuel Didier Makon
    An updated checklist of the Centipedes (Myriapoda Chilopoda) of Cameroon, with new distribution records
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2020.11.3.671.678

    ABSTRACT
    A checklist of Centipedes (Chilopoda) for Cameroon with updated nomenclature of old records and recent additional records from Cameroon’s fauna is provided. The provisional list reveals nine endemic species (39%), four new distribution records, and includes four species that were previously omitted, thereby leading to a modest extension of the list from 19 to 23 species. Several unidentified or doubtful species no longer recognized from the African continent are excluded from the list.