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The invertebrate fauna on the forest floor of Semuliki rain forest's center
Zvi Sever
Biology Dep., University of Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A
sever.zvi@gmail.com
In order to obtain data on the invertebrates inhabiting the forest floor of a lowland
tropical rain forest, I filtered leaves and ground during the dry season (February 2017)
in a 1sq.km. area, populated by mixed evergreen forest and semi deciduous forest
(see appendix map 4) in middle Semuliki forest (sq. No. 39-40 in map 1, see
appendix), Kirumia trail, around 35N UTM 0089712 X 0088735, (see appendix map
2-3) of Semuliki N.P, (extension of Virunga forest) west Uganda on the D.R.C.
border. Two samples a day (one between trees and one between a tree's buttresses)
were taken over a 3 day period, composed of 80x80 cm of leaves and soil that had
been filtered through nets (20x2o mm to 3x3 mm). The ground was filtered to a depth
of 1 cm (6 liter each time).
In order to obtain data on the mammals, four Trap cameras were wrapped to trees in
North west Semuliki NP in the forest, 100 meter from Semuliki river (sq. No. 46-45;
Semuliki river and Lamia river junction, around 36N UTM 0092620 X 0093345, see
appendix map No. 1). Bait placed in front of three cameras (fruits, vegetables and
breadcrumbs).
Total of 91 specimens were caught in the filtration activity. Accordingly, 51
specimens covering 22 species were found on the ground surface among the leaves
(leaf layer, average depth of 2.6 cm): 2 spiders, 4 snails and 16 species of insects.
The 80X80X1 cm volume of filtered soil produced 40 specimens from total of 16
species: 1 species of millipede, 7 of snails and 8 species of insects.
In both the leaf layer and the surface/soil layer, the same 4 species were found, that is,
a sum total of 34 different species of animals, invertebrates, were observed.

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By calculating how many individuals found in each layer, we can observe that the
greatest number of individuals is present in the leaves layer. This can, probably be
attributed to the fact that the leaves are humid by the dispersal rains during the dry
season. By comparing both, layers and sites the largest number of specimens is in the
leaves' layer between trees' buttresses. It can be explained by the comparatively
absence effect between the buttresses during the dry season.
It was apparent that additional filtering in central Semuliki during the dry season
might produce a much longer list of species in both layers. It would be of interest for
future research to conduct comparative studies on the forest floor of different flora in
Semuliki N.P. (see appendix, map 3).
The 'Trap cameras' produce 10,636 pictures with many flying insects and only 8 of
mammals, sitatunga and duiker (see appendix, Pictures, p. 10). It is too early for any
conclusion and next time it is important to try the Trap cameras method in some other
areas in Semuliki NP.
See Appendix:
Appendix to the Forest floor's filtration research and Trap cameras
Please find presented the next data:
1. The temperatures in the filtration sites …………………….. p.3
2. The animals' list and pictures ……………..……………….. p.3
Phylum – ARTHROPODA ………………….…………… p.3
-Spiders ……….………………………………… p.3
-Insects .. ……………………………………….. p.4
-Millipedes ………………………………….…… p.9
Phylum – MOLUSCA …………….……………………… p.9
-Snails ……….…………………………………. p.9
3. Trap Cameras- Pictures………….…………………...……. p.11
4. Maps ………………………………………………………. p.14

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April 2017
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1. Temperatures
The temperatures were measured in all the filtration sites every hour from 8:30 to
10:30 am.
Stratum measured Average (c°)
Air – 5 cm above the leaves……………………..... 25.5
On leaves' surface ……………………………..…. 24.9
Among the leaves ……………………………..…. 24.5
On the ground surface under the leaves …………. 23.8
In the ground (depth 2 cm) ………………………. 42 .3
It is possible to see that as much as we measured deeper to the leaves and ground
surface, the temperature is lower. In the ground it is wormer than on ground in the dry
season.
2. The animals' list and pictures (34 different species observed)
(The pictures of some animals sent for final identification by experts).
Body length - in mm.
Phylum – ARTHROPODA
Class - ARACHNIDA
Order – ARANEAE
Sub order- Araneomorphae
2 species of spiders:
1) Spider A - Body length 5 mm, found on ground among the leaves
Sub order, Family and Species=?

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2) Spider B - Body length 5 mm, found on ground among the leaves
Class – INSECTA
24 species of insects:
Order – LEPIDOPTERA
Caterpillars
Sub order, Family and Species=?
3) Caterpillar A - Body length 8 mm, found in the ground
4) Caterpillar - Body length 5 mm, was found among leaves
5) Caterpillar - Body length 70 mm, was found on the leaves
6) Caterpillar - Body length 7 mm, was found among the leaves
Pupas
Order- ?
7) Pupa's defend – Length 50 mm, Entrance diameter 20mm, was found in the ground

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8) Pupa's defend – Length 50 mm, Entrance diameter 20mm, was found among leaves
9) Pupa -Length 11 mm, found among leaves
10) Pupa- Length 7.5 mm, was found in the ground
11) Pupa-Length 12-19 mm, Max. diameter 5mm,was found among leaves
12) Pupa- (11 pupas) Length 10, 12 mm, was found in the ground

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13) Pupa- Length 10, 11 mm, Max. diameter 4, 5 mm, was found among leaves
Order- DICTYOPTERA )‫מפותחים‬ ‫כנפיים‬ ‫(בעלי‬ ‫תיקנים‬
Sub order- BLATTODEA
14) Imago - Body length 10 mm, was found among leaves
15) Imago - Body length 3 mm, was found among leaves
16) Imago - Body length 10 mm, found in the ground
17) Imago - Body length 15 mm, found in the ground

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18) Imago - Body length 15 mm, found in the ground
Order: COLEOPTERA
Family ?
19) Imago - Body length 7 mm, was found in the ground
Order ? Fam.?
‫נמלים‬ ‫או‬ ‫טרמיטים‬‫טרמיטים‬ ‫אם‬ ?-??‫שייכים‬ ‫על‬ '‫קב‬ ‫לאיזו‬
20) Imago - Body length 4 mm Termite or ant? Was found among lives
Order- HYMENOPTERA ‫דבוראים‬
Sub order- APOCRITA
Super family- FORMICOIDAE ‫נמלים‬
Family- Formicidae
21) Imago – Body length 2 mm, was found among leaves

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Super family- FORMICOIDAE
Family- Formicidae
22) Imago – Body length 10 mm, found among leaves
23) Imago – Body length 13 mm, found among leaves
24) Imago – Body length 2.5 mm, tow dots on the wings, found among leaves
25) Imago – Body length 3 mm, found among leaves

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26) Imago – Big ants, Max head's width 5 mm, found among leaves
27) Imago – Another species of ant ?
Sub Phylum – MYRIAPODA
1 species of Millipedes:
28) Millipede – Length 20 mm, was found in the ground
Phylum – MOLUSCA
Class - GASTROPODA
Order – Stylommatophora
11 species of snails:

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–4 Were found in the leaves
Snail C – 8 mmSnail B- 10 mmSnail A- 4 mm
Snail G- 36 mmSnail F- 7 mmSnail E- 10 mm
–7 Were found in the ground
Snail C – 10 mmSnail B- part of it-6 mmSnail A- 7 mm
‫חילזון‬2-

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Snail H- 6 mmSnail G-10 mmSnail F- broken, 8 mm
dorsal
side
ventral side,
entrance=left
Snail I- 6,7 mm
3. Trap Cameras' Pictures
Sitatunga-

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Duiker-
Duiker enlarged (from different pictures):

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See Maps – next page

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4. Maps
Map 1- Grid map of Semuliki N.P.(report about activities in sq. No. 46-45, 40-39)
Map 2 - Semuliki N.P. (Photo of the map in the visitor center, April 2015)

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Map 3 – Semuliki N.P. (fig. 4 in: Semuliki NP general management plan 2005-2015)
Map 4 – Plant's map of Semuliki N.P. (map 2 from Howard et all, 1991)
Howard, P.C., Butono, F., Kayondo-Jjemba, P., and Muhumuzaa, C. (1991).
Integrating forest conservation into district development: a case study. Chapter 5
in: Howard, P.C. (Ed.). Nature Conservation in Uganda's Tropical Forest
Reserves. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. Xvii. 313 pp.