Seasonal changes in habitat preferences of two closely related millipede species

Abstract

Abstract 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.