Species diversity of Myrmecofauna (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) on the southern slope of Djurdjura National Park (Northern Algeria)

Study Extent

The National Park of Djurdjura is located in the northern-central part of Algeria (36° 27′ 47″ N, 4° 10′ 41″ E), covering an area of 185 km2 (Mouslim and Nouel-Kheiter, 2017). The altitude of the Djurdjura chain averages 2,000 meters and has all the typical characteristics of high mountains. The Park is divided into four sectors. Three are located on the northern slope. Our work was conducted in the fourth sector, located in the southern part and known for the Tikjda mountain pass. This region has a humid, cool bio-climate characterized by four months of drought (June to September) and an estimated average rainfall of 1,258 mm/year. The monthly temperatures range from 18 °C to 23.4 °C (Derridj, 1990; Asmani, 1993). The snowfall period may last up to four months in the best years (Derridj, 1990). Being on the southern side of Djurdjura, this sector is directly influenced by hot winds (sirocco). Three sites were chosen according to their landscape type. Site 1 is located in the Tigounatine region (fig. 1) at an altitude of 1,480 m and it has a southern exposure (36° 27' 10.55″ N 4° 06' 22.37″ E). It is covered by black pine forest with a diversified floral assemblage (Ilex aquifolium L., 1753, Daphne laureola L., 1753, Berberis vulgaris L., 1753, Rosa canina L., 1753, Anthylis montana L. 1753, Juniperus communis L., 1753). Site 2 is located in the Taghzarth region at an altitude of 1,510 m with a north-west exposure (36° 27' 31.66″ N 4° 06' 38.86″E) (fig. 2). It is rocky with considerable floral diversity, including Genista spp. L., 1753, Crataegus monogyna L., 1753, Astragalus spp. L., 1753, and Juniperus communis L., 1753.The site sampled was situated on the edge of a cedar forest. Site 3 is located in the Tawyalt region at an altitude of 1,490 m with a northeastern exposure (36° 26' 28.40″ N 4° 06' 57.16″ E) (fig. 3). It is a mixed holm oak forest Quercus ilex L., 1753 with cedar, Cedrus atlantica Carrière, 1855, Cytisus scoparius L., 1822, and Sambucus nigra L., 1753, Acer campestre L., 1753, Ilex aquifolium L., 1753, Juniperus oxycedrus L., 1753. This site has suffered from fires on several occasions.

Sampling

The study was conducted during spring and summer in March 2016 and July 2017, in accordance with the recommendations of Cagniant (1973) and Barech et al. (2016).

Quality Control

The Barber pots consisted of metallic containers (7.4 cm diameter × 10.5 cm long), placed at ground level. They were filled to one-third with a solution of water and a drop of liquid dishwashing soap to break the surface tension. For each study site, we selected a 100 meter transect and positioned a pitfall trap every 5 m (20 traps). The pitfall traps were left in place for 48 hours. Their contents were then collected using a strainer and placed in Petri dishes where the date and place of collection were recorded. Ants were identified based on the determination keys found in AntWeb and AntCat. Concerning the identification of Tapinoma genus, species level was determined by Pr. Seifert Bernhard, Senckenberg Museum für Naturkunde Görlitz, Am Museum 1, 02826 Görlitz, Germany. The samples are deposited in the Collection Insectarium at the National High School of Agricultural Sciences, Algiers, Algeria.

Method steps

1. Ants were sampled using two methods, visual detection and direct hand collection (Romero and Jaffe, 1989), and the Barber pots method (Campos et al., 2011). Hand collection was performed when the pots were placed; two researchers actively searched for ants in the vegetation and under stones and rocks for 60 minutes. The ants were then preserved in 70° ethanol.

1. Hymenoptera
   rank: order
2. Formicidae
   rank: family

The National Park of Djurdjura is located in the northern-central part of Algeria (36° 27′ 47″ N, 4° 10′ 41″ E), covering an area of 185 km2 (Mouslim and Nouel-Kheiter, 2017). The altitude of the Djurdjura chain averages 2,000 meters and has all the typical characteristics of high mountains.