Abstract
In this study, we investigated the spatial aggregation of old and incipient nests of Atta sexdens rubropilosa by fitting Poisson and Negative binomial models to nest abundance data. Our aim is to analyse the distribution of ant nests in eucalypt regrowth, Cerrado and native forest fragment. We also investigated the correlation between nest abundance and climatic factors, as well as different nest ages. When comparing nests of different ages we observed an aggregated pattern for both old and incipient nests. On the other hand, analysing the distribution of nests separately, only taking into account the different areas and respective borders, old nests exhibited an aggregated pattern and incipient nests showed a random pattern, except for native forest with ants exhibiting only an aggregated pattern. The levels of aggregation changed in response to different areas and border gradients, with more external borders showing higher aggregation than more internal borders. Temperature was the variable showing the highest correlation with nest abundance and the correlation between nests of different ages was totally depending on the different areas.
Highlights
Spatial aggregation is a common pattern of distribution in leaf-cutting ant nests [1] [2]
In the native forest fragment, old nests appeared at the border with the Eucalyptus harvest area (Figure 6(a)) and incipient nests were close to the eucalypt regrowth and Eucalyptus plantation (Figure 6(b))
The spatial distribution of colonies, comparing old and incipient nests at two times, the 1st and 41st weeks, followed an aggregated pattern given by the Negative binomial model, with small differences in k (Tables 1-3)
Summary
Spatial aggregation is a common pattern of distribution in leaf-cutting ant nests [1] [2]. This pattern of distribution is important in order for leaf-cutting ants to maintain populations in areas with a high potential for resource exploitation, while ensuring success in offspring production and dispersal to new areas with available resources [1]. Incipient nests are of prime importance for providing continuity of colonies and ensuring the introduction of leaf-cutting ants into new areas. The success of leaf cutting ant continuity in each area depends essentially on the survival of incipient nests [5] [6]. Ant colony continuity depends on the ability of ants to explore different areas [7]
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