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The habitat preferences of two closely related millipede species, Centrobolus richardii and C. fulgidus, were investigated on three different seral stages of a coastal dune forest successional sere north of Richards Bay, South Africa. Fixed-width transects were used to survey millipedes in three habitats of different ages. Habitat preference occurred on both inter- and intra-site levels and was influenced by season. A habitat shift was recorded for C. richardii, while C. fulgidus was dormant during the winter months, reflecting two different strategies used by these closely related species to meet their resource requirements. Successional changes previously reported are masked by these differential responses. Resume On a etudie les preferences d’habitat de deux especes tres proches de mille-pattes, Centrobolus richardii et C. fulgidus, a trois niveaux differents d’une foret de dune cotiere au nord de Richards Bay, en Afrique du Sud. On s’est servi de transects de largeur fixe pour recenser les mille-pattes dans trois habitats d’âge different. Il y avait des preferences en matiere d’habitat tant a l’interieur des sites qu’entre les sites et elles etaient influencees par les saisons. On a releve un changement d’habitat chez C. richardii, tandis que C. fulgidusetait dormant pendant les mois d’hiver, ce qui reflete deux strategies differentes chez ces deux especes proches pour repondre a leurs besoins. Les changements successifs reportes precedemment sont masques par ces reponses differentielles. |
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