Ant Diversity of Isolated Land Masses in Ashtamudi Lake Ramsar Site, Kollam, Kerala, India

Abstract

Ashtamudi Lake is one of the three designated Ramsar sites of International importance in Kerala. This wetland has many isolated landmasses, few with human habitation and few without and thus supplements to its uniqueness. This study is an attempt to assess the diversity of ant species in these isolated landmasses and to understand if there is any difference in the distribution of ants in accordance with disturbances due to human habitation. The study was conducted for two years from 2021 to 2023. The study area comprises four isolated land masses - two without human habitation and two with human habitation. Ants were collected using different methods as described by Gadagkar et al. [1] and Agosti et al. [2] and preserved in 70% ethyl alcohol [2]. Overall 36 ant species were identified from isolated land masses without human habitation and 33 ant species were identified from isolated land masses with human habitation. Myrmicinae is the richest subfamily in both types of land masses and Crematogaster and Camponotus are the abundant genera in both kinds of land masses. Nineteen ant species were recorded in common from both kinds of isolated land masses. The sorensen Similarity index between the two kinds of land masses is 0.55. The difference in the species composition suggests that the two types of isolated land masses provide varied environment which may lead to its unique species diversity.