A tale of scale: Plot but not neighbourhood tree diversity increases leaf litter ant diversity

In tropical forests, the leaf-litter stratum exhibits one of the greatest abundances of ant species. This diversity is associated with the variety of available locations for nest building. Ant nests can be found in various microhabitats, including tree trunks and fallen twigs in different stages of decomposition. In this study, we aimed to investigate undecomposed twigs as nest-building resources in the leaf litter of dense ombrophilous forest areas in the southeastern region of Brazil. Demographic data concerning the ant colonies, the physical characteristics of the nests, and the population and structural of the forest were observed. Collections were performed manually over four months in closed canopy locations that did not have trails or flooded areas. A total of 294 nests were collected, and 34 ant species were recorded.Pheidole,Camponotus, andHypoponerawere the richest genera observed; these genera were also among the most populous and exhibited the greatest abundance of nests. We found no association between population size and nest diameter. Only tree cover influenced the nest abundance and species richness. Our data indicate that undecomposed twigs may be part of the life cycle of many species and are important for maintaining ant diversity in the leaf litter.

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Forest cover drives leaf litter ant diversity in primary rainforest remnants within human-modified tropical landscapes

Biodiversity and Conservation ◽

10.1007/s10531-019-01712-z ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 28 (5) ◽

pp. 1091-1107

Author(s):

Diana A. Ahuatzin ◽

Erick J. Corro ◽

Armando Aguirre Jaimes ◽

Jorge E. Valenzuela González ◽

Rodrigo Machado Feitosa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Leaf Litter ◽

Forest Cover ◽

Tropical Landscapes ◽

Ant Diversity

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Leaf litter ant diversity in Guyana

Biodiversity and Conservation ◽

10.1007/s10531-005-6229-4 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 491-510 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

John S. LaPolla ◽

Ted Suman ◽

Jeffrey Sosa-Calvo ◽

Ted R. Schultz

Keyword(s):

Leaf Litter ◽

Ant Diversity

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Comparison between Winkler's extractor and pitfall traps to estimate leaf litter ants richness (Formicidae) at a rainforest site in southest Brazil

Brazilian Journal of Biology ◽

10.1590/s1519-69842011000500008 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 71 (4) ◽

pp. 873-880 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

G. Orsolon-Souza ◽

CEL. Esbérard ◽

AJ. Mayhé-Nunes ◽

AB. Vargas ◽

S. Veiga-Ferreira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Leaf Litter ◽

Atlantic Forest ◽

Sampling Design ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Species Accumulation Curves ◽

Species Accumulation ◽

Leaf Litter Ants ◽

Accumulation Curves ◽

Ant Diversity ◽

Advance Knowledge

The aim of this study was to compare in the same site the efficiency of the two most used techniques for sampling ant diversity, Winkler's extractors and pitfalls. We studied communities of leaf litter ants from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, compared richness estimates for genera and species, and built species accumulation curves. These two methods resulted in a satisfactory sampling of richness; 21.3% of the genera and 47.6% of the species were collected exclusively with Winkler's extractors, whereas 6.4% of the genera and 9.5% of the species were collected exclusively with pitfalls. Winkler's extractor had proven to be the most efficient single sampling technique to estimate richness. However, pitfalls also recorded a significant portion of the total richness. Despite differences in efficiency, species accumulation curves for both techniques were similar, as well as the curve obtained with both methods combined. We noticed that Winkler's extractors were c. 74.0% more efficient than pitfalls in the Atlantic Forest. Therefore, sampling techniques must be used with a well-structured sampling design in order to advance knowledge on the ant fauna of Brazilian biomes, especially in the leaf litter, allowing more complete environmental analyses.

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Tree diversity increases robustness of multi-trophic interactions

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2018.2399 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 286 (1898) ◽

pp. 20182399 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Felix Fornoff ◽

Alexandra-Maria Klein ◽

Nico Blüthgen ◽

Michael Staab

Keyword(s):

Trophic Interactions ◽

Experimental Manipulation ◽

Tree Diversity ◽

Trophic Levels ◽

Community Diversity ◽

Ecosystem Functions ◽

Network Analyses ◽

Biodiversity Change ◽

Ant Diversity ◽

Diversity Effects

Multi-trophic interactions maintain critical ecosystem functions. Biodiversity is declining globally, while responses of trophic interactions to biodiversity change are largely unclear. Thus, studying responses of multi-trophic interaction robustness to biodiversity change is crucial for understanding ecosystem functioning and persistence. We investigate plant–Hemiptera (antagonism) and Hemiptera–ant (mutualism) interaction networks in response to experimental manipulation of tree diversity. We show increased diversity at both higher trophic levels (Hemiptera and ants) and increased robustness through redundancy of lower level species of multi-trophic interactions when tree diversity increased. Hemiptera and ant diversity increased with tree diversity through non-additive diversity effects. Network analyses identified that tree diversity also increased the number of tree and Hemiptera species used by Hemiptera and ant species, and decreased the specialization on lower trophic level species in both mutualistic and antagonist interactions. Our results demonstrate that bottom-up effects of tree diversity ascend through trophic levels regardless of interaction type. Thus, local tree diversity is a key driver of multi-trophic community diversity and interaction robustness in forests.

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DIVERSITAS SEMUT (Hymenoptera : Formicidae) PADA LAHAN GAMBUT DI DESA KUALA DUA KABUPATEN KUBU RAYA

JURNAL HUTAN LESTARI ◽

10.26418/jhl.v7i2.34553 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Destri Hardianti ◽

Hari Prayogo ◽

Yuliati Indrayani

Keyword(s):

Leaf Litter ◽

Diversity Index ◽

Similarity Index ◽

Social Animals ◽

On Line ◽

Insect Predators ◽

Index Value ◽

Ant Diversity ◽

Observation Path ◽

High Diversity

Secondary peatlands located in Kuala Dua Village, Kubu Raya Regency have various types of insects, one of which dominates is ants. Ants are members of the Order of Hymenoptera which have high diversity and complexity as social animals. Ants play a role in spreading seeds, other insect predators, spore spreaders, decomposers, ecological controllers. Information about the diversity of ants in Kubu Raya Regency is still very limited, especially those on peat land in Kuala Dua Village, Kubu Raya District, therefore research on ant diversity needs to be done with the aim to record the diversity of ants on these peatlands. Laying down the observation path is done intentionally (Purposive sampling). The method used is hand collecting and leaf litter sifting. The results shows that seven genera and four subfamily were obtained. Subfamily found is Formicinae, Ponerinae, Myrmicinae, and Dolichoderinae. The Subfamily Formicinae consists of the genus Camponotus, Colobobsis, Polyrhachis, Anoplolepis. The Ponerinae subfamily consists of the genus Leptogenys. Subfamily Myrmicinae consists of the genus Pheidole. The Dolichoderinae subfamily consists of the genus Ecphorella. The diversity index value on line 1 (1.30) is classified as medium category, line 2 (0.80) is classified as low category and line 3 (0.34) is classified as low category. The abundance index on line 1 (0.80) is classified as high category, line 2 (0.73) is classified as low category, line 3 (0.50) is classified as low category. The similarity index of ant species on line 1 and line 2 are (25%) which classified as low category. Line 1 and 3 are (57.14%) classified as medium category. The similarity index of ant species on line 2 and 3 (40%) were also classified as medium category.Keywords: ants, diversity, Kubu Raya District, peat land.

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

Australian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1071/zo07066 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 55 (6) ◽

pp. 363 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

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.

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Community Structure of Leaf-Litter Ants in a Neotropical Dry Forest: A Biogeographic Approach to Explain Betadiversity

Psyche A Journal of Entomology ◽

10.1155/2012/306925 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-15 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Rogério Silvestre ◽

Manoel F. Demétrio ◽

Jacques H. C. Delabie

Keyword(s):

Leaf Litter ◽

Beta Diversity ◽

Deciduous Forest ◽

Regional Scale ◽

Tropical Dry Forest ◽

Dry Forest ◽

High Turnover ◽

Biogeographic History ◽

Leaf Litter Ants ◽

Ant Diversity

This paper describes habitat and geographic correlates of ant diversity in Serra da Bodoquena, a poorly surveyed region of central-western Brazil. We discuss leaf-litter ant diversity on a regional scale, with emphasis on the contribution of each of the processes that form the evolutionary basis of contemporary beta diversity. The diversity of leaf-litter ants was assessed from a series of 262 Winkler samples conducted in two microbasins within a deciduous forest domain. A total of 170 litter-dwelling ant species in 45 genera and 11 subfamilies was identified. The data showed that the study areas exhibited different arrangements of ant fauna, with a high turnover in species composition between sites, indicating high beta diversity. Our analysis suggests that the biogeographic history of this tropical dry forest in the centre of South America could explain ant assemblage structure more than competitive dominance. The co-occurrence analysis showed that species co-occur less often than expected by chance in only two of the localities, suggesting that, for most of the species, co-occurrences are random. The assessment of the structure of the diversity of litter-dwelling ants is the first step in understanding the beta diversity patterns in this region of great biogeographic importance.

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

Tropical Conservation Science ◽

10.1177/1940082919852943 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

pp. 194008291985294 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

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.

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