Dissimilarity of Ant Communities Increases with Precipitation, but not Reduced Land-Use Intensity, in Indonesian Cacao Agroforestry

Akhmad Rizali,Teja Tscharntke,Yann Clough,Damayanti Buchori

doi:10.3390/d5010026

Akhmad Rizali, Teja Tscharntke + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/d5010026

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Journal: Diversity	Publication Date: Jan 31, 2013
Citations: 25	License type: CC BY 3.0

Affiliation: University of Göttingen, Bogor Agricultural University

Abstract

Land-use degradation and climate change are well-known drivers of biodiversity loss, but little information is available about their potential interaction. Here, we focus on the effects of land-use and precipitation on ant diversity in cacao agroforestry. In Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, we selected 16 cacao agroforestry plots with a shaded vs. unshaded plot in each of eight villages differing in precipitation (1032–2051 mm annual rainfall). On each plot, 10 cacao trees with similar size and age (7–10 years) were selected for hand collection of ants on each cacao tree and the soil surface. In total, we found 80 ant species belonging to five subfamilies. Land-use intensification (removal of shade trees) and precipitation had no effect on species richness of ants per cacao tree (alpha diversity) and, in an additive partitioning approach, within-plot beta diversity. However, higher precipitation (but not shade) significantly increased ant species dissimilarity across cacao trees within a plot, with ant species showing contrasting responses to precipitation. Reduced precipitation causing drought stress appeared to contribute to convergence of ant community structure, presumably via reduced heterogeneity in cacao tree growth. In conclusion, reduced precipitation greatly influenced ant community dissimilarity and appeared to be more important for ant community structure than land-use intensification.

Highlights

Land-use degradation and climate change are well-known drivers of biodiversity loss [1]
We found that mean ant species richness per tree, beta diversity and ant species similarity across the 10 trees per plot were not affected by the presence or absence of shade trees (Table 2)
According to the linear model, we found that precipitation was not related to the number of ant species richness per tree and beta diversity on the tree (Table 3, Figure 2b)

Summary

Introduction

Land-use degradation and climate change are well-known drivers of biodiversity loss [1]. Temperature increase and reduced precipitation can have an effect on the distribution, reproduction and behavior of species [2], and may even favor invasive species that are able to adapt to this altered environment [3]. Little is known of the interaction of land-use degradation and climate change, both together may greatly increase biodiversity losses [4]. Land-use intensification, exacerbated by climate change effects, may severely affect functional biodiversity, for example, natural enemies providing successful biological control. Increasing carbon dioxide and temperature can facilitate the presence of pests and diseases in agricultural habitat and reduce agrobiodiversity [5]. Climate change can have direct effect on crop plant growth through increased temperature, drought, rainfall and tropical storms [5]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion