Detecting intruders: assessment of the anthropophilic ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the city of Abidjan and along access roads in Banco National Park (Côte d’Ivoire)

Abstract

Remnant natural habitats within and surrounding urbanized areas are becoming increasingly important for maintaining local biodiversity. We used tuna bait to survey and assess ant community diversity in the ten municipalities of Abidjan city and its included natural habitat of Banco National Park. Although ant communities in urban environment differ generally from the ant fauna found in natural habitat (Banco National Park), we recorded the presence of 20 ant species shared by both habitats. We observed the occurrence of tramp ants and well-adapted urban ant species like Paratrechina longicornis and Tetramorium simillimum along the access roads of this national park. The findings of this study are important as they show the importance of Banco National Park in the conservation of biodiversity in urban areas but also the threat of invasion by anthropophilic species that may influence biodiversity within this park.