Are There Edge Effects on the Genetic Diversity of the Trap-Jaw Ant Odontomachus chelifer (Formicidae: Ponerinae) in a Neotropical Savanna Fragment? A First Assessment.

Abstract

Habitat fragmentation is considered an important threat to biodiversity, increasing species exposure to edge effects. The Brazilian Cerrado savanna is considered a biodiversity hotspot and has been converted to small, isolated fragments due to human activities. Ant communities and colony survivorship are known to be affected by edge effects in Cerrado, but to date there is no information on the genetic diversity of ant colonies at the edge of fragmented areas. Here, we investigate if colony genetic diversity and structure of Odontomachus chelifer (Latreille) ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are subject to edge effects in a Cerrado reserve in southeast Brazil. Using microsatellites, we evaluated the number of breeders (queens and males) and the genetic diversity in O. chelifer colonies located in the interior versus edge of a Cerrado fragment. All O. chelifer nests had multiple queens, which presented a low mating frequency. The number of breeders and most estimates of genetic diversity did not differ between colonies at the edge versus interior of the fragment. Genetic structure was not influenced by nest location as well. However, we detected a small and positive increase in the observed heterozygosity in colonies located at fragment edges. High heterozygosity is thought to be particularly important in fast-changing environments, such as edges, providing an advantage for genetic diversity. Further investigation is needed to assess in greater detail how habitat loss affects O. chelifer biology. Our study is a first step toward elucidating edge effects on genetic diversity of ant colonies, a topic still poorly explored in tropical environments.