Contrasting rainforest and savanna ant faunas in monsoonal northern Australia: a rainforest patch in a tropical savanna landscape

2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan N. Andersen ◽  
Laura T. van Ingen ◽  
Ricardo I. Campos
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Functional Group ◽  
Group Composition ◽  
Active Species ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Tropical Savanna ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Neotropical Savanna ◽  
Ant Diversity

Rainforest in the tropical savanna landscapes of monsoonal Australia is of high biogeographic interest because it occurs as numerous small and isolated patches, and supports a fauna that contrasts markedly with that of the surrounding savanna. The overall ant fauna of monsoonal rainforest is known reasonably well, but with just one exception (Holmes Jungle in Darwin) the faunas of individual rainforest patches have been only superficially studied. This paper comprehensively documents an ant fauna of a spring-fed rainforest patch at the Territory Wildlife Park (TWP) near Darwin, contrasts it with that of surrounding savanna, and compares it with the Holmes Jungle fauna. Ants were sampled at 21 locations within the TWP rainforest, using Winkler sacs for litter-dwelling species (160 samples), standard pitfall traps for ground-active species (75 traps), and baited pitfall traps taped to trees for arboreal species (75 traps). In total, 43 species were collected, with 35 recorded in leaf litter, 24 in ground pitfall traps and 12 in arboreal pitfall traps. Species of Paratrechina and Pheidole collectively comprised 75% of all individuals recorded. Species richness was far higher in the surrounding savanna, and the rainforest and savanna faunas had markedly different species and functional group composition. The rainforest fauna at TWP was remarkably similar to that at Holmes Jungle. The rainforest/savanna contrast in ant diversity across northern Australia is the reverse of that occurring in Neotropical savanna landscapes.

scholarly journals First standardized inventory of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the natural grasslands of Paraná: New records for Southern Brazil

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 ◽  
pp. 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weslly Franco ◽  
Rodrigo Machado Feitosa
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
New Records ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Conservation Units ◽  
Natural Grasslands ◽  
Taxonomic Novelties ◽  
First Time ◽  
Ant Diversity

Despite the large number of studies investigating ant diversity in Brazilian biomes, no ant-related studies have been carried out in Campos Gerais, a grassland physiognomy in Paraná state. The present study is the first inventory of the ant fauna in one of the few conservation units protecting the Campos Gerais landscape, the Guartelá State Park (PEG). Sixty samples were collected from different habitats within PEG using pitfall traps. Qualitative samples of leaf litter were collected from forest fragments and submitted to Winkler extractors. In addition, manual qualitative sampling was carried out in the various physiognomies within the PEG. A total of 163 species was collected and sorted into 43 genera and nine subfamilies. Five genera and 28 species were recorded for the first time in the state of Paraná. Out of these, 17 species were also recorded for the first time in the Southern Region of Brazil and two were recorded for the first time to the country. The significant species richness in the PEG and the high number of new records is a strong sign of this ecosystem’s potential to reveal taxonomic novelties. These results suggest that PEG, and the Campos Gerais as a whole, should be the target of greater conservation efforts to preserve native remnants.

Diversity components and assembly patterns of plant functional traits determine community spatial stability under resource gradients in a desert steppe

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhao Na ◽  
Wang Zhengwen ◽  
Shao Xinqing ◽  
Wang Kun
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Nutrient Availability ◽  
Functional Group ◽  
Group Composition ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Spatial Stability ◽  
Trait Diversity ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Functional Trait Diversity

The diversity–stability relationship has been addressed and debated for decades, but how this relationship is affected by nutrient availability remains contentious. In the present study we assessed the effects of plant diversity, in terms of species richness, functional group composition and functional trait diversity, on the spatial stability of net primary productivity (NPP) following nitrogen and phosphorus application. In addition, we explored how functional traits at the species level contribute to the spatial stability of NPP. The results support the hypothesis that greater diversity leads to higher spatial stability. This relationship was highly dependent on soil nutrient availability, and increasing species richness or functional trait diversity significantly increased spatial variation of NPP under a high N fertilisation level. The effects of high mineral fertilisation rates may perhaps have masked the effects of plant diversity. Although species richness or functional trait diversity of the original and modified communities from which species with particular functional traits had been removed were significantly different, there were no differences in the coefficients of variation in the NPP of those communities. The lack of difference demonstrated that the relationship between spatial variability and biodiversity depended on the measure of diversity applied and that the functional group composition exerted a stronger effect than other diversity measures. Further analyses revealed that spatial stability of NPP was enhanced with increased diversity in vegetative plant height, rooting depth and the presence of legume, and diminished with diversity in the root system type and life cycle under some fertilisation treatments. The present study demonstrates that the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning is variable with different diversity, identity and environmental factors. Evaluating the contribution of particular traits to community stability will ultimately help us better understand the mechanisms underlying the diversity–stability relationship.

scholarly journals Effects of Urbanization on the Diversity, Abundance, and Composition of Ant Assemblages in an Arid City

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 836-846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier G Miguelena ◽  
Paul B Baker
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Functional Group ◽  
Landscape Heterogeneity ◽  
Urban Ecosystems ◽  
Colony Growth ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Ant Assemblages ◽  
Ant Diversity

AbstractCities within arid regions make up a significant but understudied subset of the urban ecosystems of the world. To assess the effects of urbanization, fragmentation, and land-use change in an arid city, we sampled the ant assemblages in three habitat types in Tucson, Arizona: irrigated neighborhood parks, urban desert remnants, and preserved desert. We analyzed the abundance, species richness, evenness, as well as the species and functional group composition of ant assemblages. We found no significant differences in species richness or evenness. However, irrigated parks had significantly greater ant abundances. Although some exotic species were present in the urban habitats, they did not have significant effects on ant diversity. Ant assemblages from all three habitat types were distinct from each other in their composition. Irrigated parks included a significantly higher proportion of species typically found in cooler and wetter climates. The differences in abundance and species composition between irrigated parks and the other habitats are likely the effect of irrigation removing water as a limiting factor for colony growth and increasing resource availability, as well as producing a localized cooling effect. Our results show that arid urban ecosystems may include considerable biodiversity, in part thanks to increased landscape heterogeneity resulting from the irrigation of green areas.

The distribution of leaf litter invertebrates along a Neotropical altitudinal gradient

1994 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Olson
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Test Tube ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Lowland Rainforest ◽  
Litter Invertebrates ◽  
Number Of Individuals ◽  
Leaf Litter Invertebrates

ABSTRACTLeaf litter invertebrates were sampled at eight sites, approximately 250 m apart in elevation, along an altitudinal transect extending from primary lowland rainforest to cloud forest in western Panama. The study focused on several diverse and numerically important litter invertebrate taxa (e.g., ants, spiders, and beetles) that were effectively sampled using a combination of litter sifting and test tube pitfall traps. The mean altitudinal range of species was around 500 m (standard deviation 370 m) and approximately 50% of the species characteristic of a given elevation dropped out after a 500 m change in elevation in either direction. There was no evidence for distinct altitudinal zonation in leaf litter assemblages. Both species richness and number of individuals of most taxa showed a pronounced decline in the vicinity of the upward transition to cloud forests. The data also suggest a broad mid-elevation peak in sample species richness for the litter invertebrate fauna. The implications of the results for biodiversity conservation are discussed.

Community Organisation, Biogeography and Seasonality of Ants in an Open Forest of South-eastern Queensland

1997 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 523 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Vanderwoude ◽  
A. N. Andersen ◽  
A. P. N. House
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Functional Group ◽  
Group Composition ◽  
Ant Communities ◽  
Ant Community ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Community Organisation ◽  
Eucalypt Forest ◽  
Eastern Australia

The biogeography and structure of ant communities were examined over a 12-month period at a dry open eucalypt forest in south-eastern Queensland. Three sites were monitored, each with a distinct long-term burning history: burned annually since 1952, burned periodically since 1973, and unburned since 1946. A total of 89 species from 42 genera was recorded over all trapping periods, with the richest genera being Iridomyrmex, Camponotus and Pheidole, each with eight species. Site species richness was 74, 63 and 43, respectively, at the annually burned, periodically burned and the unburned site. We compared the ant community in this forest with those at other forested sites in eastern Australia. Overall, the south-eastern Queensland community was located on the overlap between the Bassian and Torresian zones (not dominated by either element), while the functional-group composition resembled those of both tropical savannas and cool-temperate woodlands. There were readily discernible differences between sites in terms of biogeographical and functional-group composition; and between the unburned site and both burned sites in terms of abundance and species richness. The relative abundance of Iridomyrmex spp. increased with burning frequency while the relative abundance of Bassian species decreased with burning frequency. Species richness and abundance at the burned sites were similar, but substantially higher than at the unburned site. The community characteristics of the three sites were readily distinguishable, indicating that ant communities may play a valuable role in detecting ecological changes in forested landscapes in south- eastern Queensland.

The distribution of ants on the Wessel and English Company Islands, in the seasonal tropics of Australia’s Northern Territory

1998 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 557 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Z. Woinarski ◽  
Hanna Reichel ◽  
A. N. Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Functional Group ◽  
Group Composition ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Small Islands ◽  
Island Size ◽  
Generalist Species ◽  
The North ◽  
Continental Islands

A total of 74 ant species (from 23 genera) was recorded from 195 quadrats (50 × 50 m) from 39 continental islands off Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. In general, the ant fauna comprised generalist species widespread on the north Australian mainland. The functional group composition was also comparable to that of similar environments on the north Australian mainland. The ant fauna was not tightly structured. There were few habitat specialists, no species showed a clear preference for smaller islands, and only a few species showed unequivocal preferences for larger islands. There were no clear cases of congeneric, or otherwise ecologically similar, species replacing each other on different islands. In contrast to the north Australian mainland, there were no significant differences between habitats in ant species richness. However, the functional group composition varied significantly between the eight main habitats sampled across the islands, in a manner consistent with that reported for the mainland. The number of ant species recorded per island was most closely related to island size (80% of the deviance explained), but there was only slight or no relationship between island size and the number of species at the quadrat scale. Functional group composition varied between islands, with small islands supporting a relatively high proportion of Generalised Myrmicinae species. Low-lying (and presumably intermittently inundated) islands supported a higher proportion of Dominant Dolichoderinae and few Specialist Predators and Tropical Climate Specialist species. Very small islands supported a relatively high proportion of Dominant Dolichoderinae species. These differences are largely attributable to inter-island differences in habitat availability and disturbance regimes, and to differences between functional groups in dispersability, competitive ability and ecological flexibility. Species richness was little influenced by the extent of island isolation. Patterning in the ant fauna of these islands parallels that reported for islands elsewhere.

scholarly journals Ant Occupation of Twigs in the Leaf Litter of the Atlantic Forest: Influence of the Environment and External Twig Structure

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 194008291985294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tae Tanaami Fernandes ◽  
Wesley Dáttilo ◽  
Rogério R. Silva ◽  
Pedro Luna ◽  
Carla M. Oliveira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Relative Number ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Environmental Filters ◽  
Ant Colonies ◽  
Forest Sites ◽  
Ant Diversity

Twig cavities are microhabitats that may be used by different ant species for nesting and colony expansion. However, ants do not colonize all twigs available in the leaf litter, pointing to the existence of environmental or twig-related filters. In this study, we analyzed which environmental and twig attributes affected twig occupation by ants. We surveyed seven plots in six Atlantic forest sites in southeastern Brazil. To characterize the environmental filters, we quantified canopy cover and leaf litter moisture and depth. At the twig level, we measured twig length and diameter and the area and circumference of all holes in each twig. Ant colonies occupied 13.42% of the 4,805 twigs surveyed, and we recorded a total of 52 twig-nesting ant species. Brachymyrmex admotus was the most frequent species. Ant species richness increased with canopy cover and leaf litter moisture and with the relative number of occupied twigs. In addition, we found that ant species richness increased with length and diameter of the twigs, and that twigs with smaller holes were more frequently occupied by ants, regardless of the availability of larger diameter holes. Our work demonstrates that both environmental characteristics and twig morphology can structure occupation of twigs by ants. In addition, we demonstrated that certain species show a preference for certain twig types. We highlight the importance of twigs for maintaining ant diversity and for colony expansion of arboreal species and species inhabiting the leaf litter.

scholarly journals Local and Landscape Drivers of Carabid Activity, Species Richness, and Traits in Urban Gardens in Coastal California

Insects ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stacy M. Philpott ◽  
Simone Albuquerque ◽  
Peter Bichier ◽  
Hamutahl Cohen ◽  
Monika H. Egerer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Functional Group ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Community Gardens ◽  
Wing Morphology ◽  
Activity Density ◽  
Landscape Factors

Urban ecosystems, as mosaics of residential, industrial, commercial, and agricultural land, present challenges for species survival due to impervious surface, degradation, fragmentation, and modification of natural habitat, pollution, and introduced species. Some urban habitats, such as community gardens, support biodiversity and promote ecosystem services. In gardens, local factors (e.g., vegetation, groundcover) and landscape surroundings (e.g., agriculture, built or impervious cover) may influence species abundance, richness, and functional traits that are present. We examined which local and landscape factors within 19 community gardens in the California central coast influence ground beetle (Carabidae) activity density, species richness, functional group richness, and functional traits—body size, wing morphology, and dispersal ability. Gardens with higher crop richness and that are surrounded by agricultural land had greater carabid activity density, while species and functional group richness did not respond to any local or landscape factor. Gardens with more leaf litter had lower carabid activity, and gardens with more leaf litter tended to have more larger carabids. Changes in local (floral abundance, ground cover) and landscape (urban land cover) factors also influenced the distribution of individuals with certain wing morphology and body size traits. Thus, both local and landscape factors influence the taxonomic and functional traits of carabid communities, with potential implications for pest control services that are provided by carabids.

Plant functional group composition and large‐scale species richness in European agricultural landscapes

2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaan Liira ◽  
Torsten Schmidt ◽  
Tsipe Aavik ◽  
Paul Arens ◽  
Isabel Augenstein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Functional Group ◽  
Group Composition ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Plant Functional Group

scholarly journals Wood Pastures: A Transitional Habitat between Forests and Pastures for Dung Beetle Assemblages

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
László Somay ◽  
Viktor Szigeti ◽  
Gergely Boros ◽  
Réka Ádám ◽  
András Báldi
Keyword(s):  
Functional Group ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Livestock Grazing ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Assemblage Composition ◽  
Beetle Assemblages

Wood pastures are home to a variety of species, including the dung beetle. Dung beetles are an important functional group in decomposition. Specifically, in terms of livestock manure, they not only contribute to nutrient cycling but are key players in supporting human and animal health. Dung beetles, however, are declining in population, and urgent recommendations are needed to reverse this trend. Recommendations need to be based on solid evidence and specific habitats. Herein, we aimed to investigate the role of an intermediate habitat type between forests and pastures. Wood pastures are key areas for dung beetle conservation. For this reason, we compared dung beetle assemblages among forests, wood pastures, and grasslands. We complemented this with studies on the effects of dung type and season at three Hungarian locations. Pitfall traps baited with cattle, sheep, or horse dung were used in forests, wood pastures, and pasture habitats in spring, summer, and autumn. Dung beetle assemblages of wood pastures showed transient characteristics between forests and pastures regarding their abundance, species richness, Shannon diversity, assemblage composition, and indicator species. We identified a strong effect of season and a weak of dung type. Assemblage composition proved to be the most sensitive measure of differences among habitats. The conservation of dung beetles, and the decomposition services they provide, need continuous livestock grazing to provide fresh dung, as well as the maintenance of wood pastures where dung beetle assemblages typical of forests and pastures can both survive.

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