Abstract
Simple SummaryThere is little information available about the species diversity and distribution patterns of Nepalese ants, as well as their importance in maintaining forest health. A survey of forest ants was conducted in Nepal to learn about their diversity, distribution, and role in forest management. Ants were collected using vegetation beating, sweeping, and hand collection methods in eastern, central, and western Nepal. Seventy ant species from thirty-six genera and six subfamilies were recorded in the study. The research also discovered five genera and nine species new for the country, as well as eight tramp species, four of which are major ecological, agricultural, and/or household pests. The study discovered that western Nepal and the Siwalik region have a relatively high ant diversity. Ant diversity was found to decrease with increasing elevation. The assessment of ant diversity using multiple sampling methods that cover all seasons and forest types may be useful in obtaining complete ant diversity data. Early intervention through sustainable forest management initiatives would aid in preventing invasive ant incursions in the forests of Nepal.The information available on the diversity of ant species and their distribution and interaction with forest health in Nepal remains limited. As part of a nationwide project on forest health, we conducted inventories to assess the diversity and distribution of forest ants and their role in forest management in Nepal. Ants were collected from 187 plots of 10 m × 10 m size along the north–south belt transects in eastern, central, and western Nepal. We used vegetation beating, sweeping, and hand collection methods in selected forest types. In each transect, we designed six plots in each major forest type (Sal, Schima–Castanopsis, and broadleaf mixed forests) and three plots each in deodar, Alnus, riverine, and Cryptomeria forests. We recorded 70 ant species from 36 genera and six subfamilies. This includes five genera and nine species new for the country, as well as eight tramp species, four of which are major ecological, agricultural, and/or household pests. Our study indicates that forest ant species richness is high in western Nepal and the Siwaliks, and it decreases as elevation increases. The high diversity of ant species in the forests of Nepal needs to be assessed with further exploration using multiple sampling methods covering all seasons and forest types. Ants can be useful indicators for ecosystem management and human impacts on forests. Reports of invasive ants in Nepalese forests indicate the relevance of urgent interventions through sustainable forest management initiatives to prevent future incursions.
Highlights
IntroductionAnts (family: Formicidae) occur in almost all terrestrial ecosystems, while tropical regions harbor peaks of their diversity [1]
Ants occur in almost all terrestrial ecosystems, while tropical regions harbor peaks of their diversity [1]
We found tramp/invasive ants in eleven of the twenty-one forest types studied, indicating that Nepalese forests are vulnerable to tramp/invasive species encroachment
Summary
Ants (family: Formicidae) occur in almost all terrestrial ecosystems, while tropical regions harbor peaks of their diversity [1]. Some ants are key predators [2,3], ecosystem engineers [4,5,6], seed dispersers [7,8], and biocontrol agents [9,10]. Some ant species are notorious pests of households, agriculture, and forests. Ant diversity is noted to be higher in undisturbed primary forests than in secondary forests [12] and is often considered as an indicator of biodiversity and forest health [13,14]. There are two major ant species distribution patterns: decreasing with increasing elevations [15] and mid-elevation peaks [16]
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