Influence of Cave Size and Presence of Bat Guano on Ant Visitation

Wesley Dáttilo

doi:10.13102/sociobiology.v59i2.617

Abstract

This is the first study which evaluated the influence of cave size and presence of bat guano in ant visitation in Brazilian caves. We provide a list of the ants associated with 27 caves in northeastern Brazil, an area situated in the transition between Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) and Amazon Domain. The study was conducted between January and August 2010. We recorded 24 ant species inserted into 12 genera, 10 tribes, and six subfamilies. The size of the cave and the presence of guano did not influence the richness of ants, and most of the caves had single species. Camponotus atriceps was the species with the larger distribution, being collected in five caves. In addition, we discuss geographic distribution of records and possible ecological roles of ants in cave environments.

Highlights

Despite the fact that Brazil has one of the most valuable and diversified speleological patrimonies in the world (Santos et al 2002), cave fauna inventories are rare (Dessen et al 1980)
We found 24 ant species inserted into 12 genera, 10 tribes and six subfamilies
SUBFAMILY PONERINAE TRIBE PONERINI Odontomachus opaciventris Forel, 1899. This is the first study we are aware of where the influence of the size of the cave and the presence of guano on the richness of ants in Brazilian caves was evaluated

Summary

Introduction

Despite the fact that Brazil has one of the most valuable and diversified speleological patrimonies in the world (Santos et al 2002), cave fauna inventories are rare (Dessen et al 1980). Until 1994, there were 76 known vertebrate species and 537 invertebrate species inhabiting Brazilian caves (Pinto-da-Rocha 1995). These organisms can be classified into three categories: (1) trogloxenes, which spend part of their life into the cave but return to the exterior to finish their life cycle; (2) troglophiles, which have established populations and can finish their life cycle both in the exterior and interior of Sociobiology Vol 59, No 2, 2012 the cave, and (3) troglobites, which are restricted to the cave environment and only finish their life cycle inside the cave (Holsinger & Culver 1988). Troglophiles can be considered the most frequent kind of organism in cave habitats (Trajano 1987, Trajano & Gnaspini-Netto 1991, Ferreira & Horta 2001)

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Conclusion