Number Of Ant Species Research Articles

Imprints of indirect interactions on a resource-mediated ant-plant network across different levels of network organization.

Indirect interactions are pivotal in the evolution of interacting species and the assembly of populations and communities. Nevertheless, despite recently being investigated in plant-animal mutualism at the community level, indirect interactions have not been studied in resource-mediated mutualisms involving plant individuals that share different animal species as partners within a population (i.e., individual-based networks). Here, we analyzed an individual-based ant-plant network to evaluate how resource properties affect indirect interaction patterns and how changes in indirect links leave imprints in the network across multiple levels of network organization. Using complementary analytical approaches, we described the patterns of indirect interactions at the micro-, meso-, and macro-scale. We predicted that plants offering intermediate levels of nectar quantity and quality interact with more diverse ant assemblages. The increased number of ant species would cause a higher potential for indirect interactions in all scales evaluated. We found that nectar properties modified patterns of indirect interactions of plant individuals that share mutualistic partners, leaving imprints across different network scales. To our knowledge, this is the first study tracking indirect interactions in multiple scales within an individual-based network. We show that functional traits of interacting species, such as nectar properties, may lead to changes in indirect interactions, which could be tracked across different levels of the network organization evaluated.

Unrecognised Ant Megadiversity in the Australian Monsoonal Tropics III: The Meranoplus ajax Forel Complex

Australia’s monsoonal (seasonal) tropics are a global centre of ant diversity, but are largely unrecognised as such because the vast majority of its species are undescribed. Here we document another case of undescribed hyper-diversity within a taxon that is formally recognised as a single, widespread species, Meranoplus ajax Forel. We recognise 50 species among 125 specimens of M. ‘ajax’ that we CO1-barcoded, integrating CO1 clustering and divergence, morphological differentiation and geographic distribution. A large proportion (44%) of these species are represented by single records, indicating that very many additional species are yet to be collected in this extremely remote and sparsely populated region. Sampling has been concentrated in the Northern Territory, where 27 of the 50 species occur. If diversity in Western Australia and Queensland were similar to that in the Northern Territory, as appears likely, then the M. ajax complex would comprise >100 species. In 2000, when Australia’s monsoonal ant fauna was estimated to contain 1500 species, Meranoplus ajax was considered to represent a single species. Our previous analyses of a range of other taxa have shown that their diversity has been similarly under-appreciated in this estimate. Our findings suggest that the total number of ant species in monsoonal Australia is several thousand, which would make the region by far the world’s richest known.

Habitat simplification affects functional group structure along with taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of temperate‐zone ant assemblages over a ten‐year period

Biodiversity is declining at various scales due to habitat simplification. Nevertheless, there is scarce information on how the biotic and abiotic changes linked to simplification affect several diversity dimensions, such as taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversities. This study investigated whether transforming natural oak forests into induced grasslands affected species diversity, functional group structure, and phylogenetic diversity of ant assemblages inhabiting a temperate forest in central Mexico. We placed over 1000 pitfall traps in five sampling events covering a ten‐year period. We used Hill numbers to evaluate species diversity differences between vegetation types and patterns over time. Ant species were classified into stress‐related functional groups, which were analyzed for their association with vegetation types and changes to their proportional abundance over time. We calculated the standardized effect size of the mean nearest taxon distance to quantify the evolutionary history and test for non‐random patterns within vegetation types and sampling years. Species richness did not differ between vegetation types, yet grasslands showed greater diversity for the q = 1 and q = 2 orders. , We also found three ant species as bioindicators for each type of vegetation. Regarding functional structure, cold climate specialists were associated with oak forests. In contrast, generalist species were predominant in induced grasslands. Higher phylogenetic diversity with an overdispersed structure was associated with oak forest, whereas lower phylogenetic diversity and a clustered pattern were found in induced grassland. These results indicate that habitat simplification may not affect the number of ant species, but rather increases their relative abundance and reorganizes the functional and phylogenetic structure in the ecosystem, particularly shifting towards the dominance of evolutionary closely related species and broad‐stress‐tolerant groups. These results highlight the importance of integrating further dimensions of diversity to properly evaluate the reassembly dynamics after habitat simplification, and understand the mechanisms driving this biodiversity loss.

Loss of ant, beetle and spider abundance and diversity upon desiccation of poorly managed water bodies in the Chihuahuan Desert

The Cuatro Ciénegas basin is an international recognized wetland within the Chihuahuan Desert. Some of the water bodies within the area have been subject to unsustainable management practices. Here we study the impact of water extraction on beetles, ants and spiders. Our study started with the drying up of the main water bodies in mid-2011. The water level recovered in 2013 but diminished dramatically since then. We monitored the ant and beetle richness and abundance during 2011 and 2012 and the spiders from 2011 to 2016. The number of ant species diminished in 2012, after the first collapse of the water level. Abundance of both, ants and beetles were also significantly lower in the second year. Spider abundance and richness closely followed the ground desiccation resulting from the declining water levels. We found the highest number of species in 2011. The numbers declined thereafter. Abundance was high in 2011 and 2014, after the wetland recuperated, but declined when the water body dried up again. Our results show the negative impact of ground desiccation resulting from poor water management in wetlands within arid environments.

Edge effects on ant diversity and functional composition in a forest fragment in the Central Amazon

The process of human-induced forest fragmentation increases the degree of isolation and causes biodiversity loss. Abrupt changes occur mainly near the edge of the fragment, where the average temperature is relatively higher and the humidity is lower. However, some natural environmental characteristics, such as higher air moisture in riparian areas, may buffer or minimize the edge effects. Here, we studied how the edge effect may affect ant species diversity and functional composition on valleys dissected by small streams (mesic areas). We categorized ant assemblages into the functional groups based on foraging, nesting habits, natural history information, and phylogeny. Ants were sampled using pitfalls and the Winkler extractor in ten riparian plots in a fragment of the Central Amazon. We individually fit the ant species richness, occurrence, and composition against two edge measures: forest edge distance and road-building distance. We recorded 99 species/morphospecies. Forest edge distance and road-building distance did not influence the occurrence and number of ant species per plot but were related to ant species composition. Moreover, there was not a clear pattern between functional groups distribution, except by leaf-cutters and generalist omnivorous species. Our results suggest a limited effect of forest edge distance and road-building distance on ant diversity

New and Additional Records for the Ant Fauna (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Morocco

Morocco hosts a high diversity of animal and plant species, including a diverse ant fauna. Here, we report collection records of four ant species not previously known from Morocco: Goniomma kugleri Espadaler, 1986, Strumigenys rogeri Emery, 1890, Temnothorax longipilosus (Santschi, 1912) and Proceratium numidicum Santschi, 1912. G. kugleri is mentioned for the first time for continental Africa. This raises the number of ant species known from Morocco to 242. In addition, we report new data on six ant species in Morocco for which there is little information: Technomyrmex vexatus (Santschi, 1919), Temnothorax convexus (Forel, 1894), Messor brevispinosus Santschi, 1923, Strumigenys baudueri (Emery, 1875), Strumigenys membranifera Emery, 1869 and Monomorium andrei Saunders, 1890. This number of ant species known from Morocco greatly exceeds from neighboring countries in North Africa. In addition, vast regions of Morocco have never been surveyed and probably host many undiscovered species.

The Effects of Pitfall Trap Spacing on Ant Richness (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Abundance, and Composition in Dinder National Park, Sudan

Ants play an important role in Sudanese biodiversity and environmental impact assessments, Although baiting is easy and cheap to implement, several considerations, such as the spacing among bait, can affect the estimation of the abundance and richness of ants species. In this study, we evaluated the effects of bait spacing on abundance and the number of ant species. We also demonstrate which distance between baits showed the best relationship between costs and the number of ant species sampled. We sampled 30 transects of 100 m with bait spacing ranging (2.5; 3.3; 5; 6.7; 10 and 20 m), spread over 1 km² into three different type of ecosystems (Wooded grass land, Riverine ecosystem and Maya ecosystem), at DNP located in Sudan. The bait spacing did not affect the ant diversity estimative. Regardless bait spacing, the number of species collected every five baits was around 8, and the average abundance was approximately 50 individuals. However, the number of species per bait was higher in transects with a larger gap between baits. Transects with bait spans of 20 and 10 m captured 50% more species per bait than transects with baits 2.5 and 3.4 m apart. Our study suggest that the most efficient sampling design using only baits in the park would be, to place 450 baits every 10 m and 20 m.

Identify and analyze the Diversity of Ant in Indonesia, Diversity of Ants at the Universitas Sumatera Utara and Diversity of Ants at The Universitas Andalas

One of the diversity of subfamily level ants is Myrmicinae. Myrmicinae are distributed throughout the world in all major habitats except ecosystem areas with low diversity indicating pressure that will affect ecosystem quality. The types of ants obtained from the location of the USU campus found 9 species consisting of 5 subfamilies as follows: Paracidris sp. Paedalgus sp. Solenopsis sp. Oligomyrmex sp. The total ant diversity index (H') on the USU campus included moderate diversity (H') 1.25, the genus with the highest distribution frequency at all research sites was Solenopsis sp, namely 50% Oligomyrmex sp, a genus with a low distribution frequency of 15%. The results of research at Andalas University, the total number of species accumulated in this study was the highest among other studies reported from Sumatra. The Quadra protocol is the standard method for rapid research of ants. Collecting the prominent number of ant species listed in this study is also effective for detecting frequent and abundant ant species. The analysis of the data obtained shows that it is possible to record more species of ants considering that field exploration continues

Gamma, alpha, and beta diversity of ant assemblages response to a gradient of forest cover in human‐modified landscape in Brazilian Amazon

AbstractThe partitioning of gamma diversity into its alpha and beta components has been used to quantify the effects of natural habitat reduction on species diversity and distribution. Ant assemblages respond to anthropogenic changes, allowing their use as an indicator of biodiversity conservation in human‐modified landscapes. We investigated the responses of gamma, alpha, and beta diversity of ant assemblages to a forest cover gradient in southwestern Brazilian Amazon. Our prediction was that increasing forest cover would increase gamma diversity, which in turn is driven more by increasing beta diversity than alpha diversity along the forest cover gradient. Additionally, we expected that increasing beta diversity would be mainly driven by species replacement. We sampled ants within 12 circular areas (radius: 500 m) with different forest cover percentages in Chico Mendes Extractive Reserve, state of Acre, southwestern Brazilian Amazon. Gamma and beta diversity, but not alpha diversity, responded positively to the forest cover gradient. Additionally, species replacement was the main driver of beta diversity along the forest cover gradient. Areas with low levels of forest cover probably offer limited variation in habitats, resources, and conditions and, thus, harbor a low number of ant species that can easily disperse spatially and leading to species composition simplification. We recommend the use of diversity partitioning for indicator groups as an efficient way to monitor biodiversity and control the process of biota simplification at the human‐modified landscapes, showing the response of species diversity and distribution to human impacts.Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.

Myrmecological diversity (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Tamaulipas, México

This investigation involved analyzing 77 publications, 6 national biological collections and an international collection and determining the myrmecological diversity of Tamaulipas, which consists of 195 species that belong to 60 genera, with 410 records in the state. The genera with the highest species richness were Camponotus Mayr (Formicinae), Pheidole Westwood (Myrmicinae) and Neivamyrmex Borgmeier (Dorylinae), with 17, 15 and 12 species, respectively. The ant fauna of Tamaulipas consists of 95% native species and 5% exotic species. The investigation determined that 25 municipalities had been sampled, and Gómez Farías, Victoria and Jaumave stood out with the highest number of ant species records; however, 18 municipalities that provide opportunities to increase the knowledge of Formicidae remain unexplored.

Keanekaragaman dan Kepadatan Semut (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) di Lahan Gambut Alami

This study aims to determine the effect of open peatland areas on ant diversity. This research method uses a quantitative descriptive approach by collecting ant samples using the pitfall traps method. The results showed that the total number of ant species found in this study was 129. In natural peat forests, 113 species were found from 3660 individuals and in open peatland found 49 species from 5976 individuals. The diversity index is 2.38 in natural peat forests and the diversity index is 1.91 in open peatland. In conclusion, the number of ant species decreases with the open area.
 Keywords: Peatlands, Oil Palm, Ants

Species list of ground-dwelling ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Nhecolândia, Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

This study provides a list of the ground-dwelling ant species in Nhecolândia, Pantanal, Mato Grosso Sul, Brazil. The Pantanal is the largest tropical wetland in the world and is currently under strong anthropic pressure. Ground-dwelling ants were collected in three sites: (1) a forest regeneration area; (2) a pasture area; and (3) an area of secondary native vegetation. In each site, 120 samples were collected using pitfall traps in the dry and rainy seasons of 2016. Additional samplings were performed with Winkler extractors (30 leaf-litter samples) and manually, also in dry and rainy seasons of 2016. In total, we collected 172 species, which, summed with the additional records from literature, raise the number of ant species recorded in Nhecolândia to 184 in 42 genera and nine subfamilies. Eleven species were recorded for the first time in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Also, the survey adds two new species records to Brazil. Besides contributing to the inventory of the ant species present in the Pantanal biome, the present study provides an important resource for future conservation plans for this threatened ecoregion.

Nesting of arboreal ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in artificial substrates in coffee plantations in the Colombian Andes

Ants can provide pest biocontrol for coffee crops; however, this ecosystem service may decline in intensively managed plantations due to the loss of nesting resources. Considering how to increase the number of ants, we studied if they nest in different types of artificial substrates attached to coffee bushes both in shade-grown and sun-grown coffee plantations. Three independent tests were conducted at some coffee plantations in southwestern Colombia with the purpose of answering the following questions: 1) Do ants nest in artificial substrates made from recyclable materials? 2) Do the types of substrate (materials and configuration) and coffee management (shade-grown vs. sun-grown coffee) affect colonization rates, richness, and identity of colonizing ants? 3) Does time affect substrate colonization rates? Each experiment independently compared different substrate materials and designs, in both shade and sun-grown coffee. Results showed preference of one of the substrates offered and higher nesting rates in shade-grown plantations. Eight ant species were found nesting in artificial substrates, most of them being arboreal generalists. A higher number of ant species colonized substrates in shade-grown plantations; however, the effect was not statistically significant. Nesomyrmex asper and Crematogaster spp. were always found nesting in both types of plantation. There was a trend to increase nesting activity with time in shade-grown coffee but not in sun-grown coffee. Evidence supports that offering artificial substrates enhances arboreal ant nesting in coffee plantations.

Effects of rainforest transformation to monoculture cash crops on soil living ants (Formicidae) in Jambi Province, Sumatra, Indonesia

Ants (Formicidae) are fundamental components of almost every terrestrial ecosystem, especially in the tropics. While epigaeic ants are extensively studied, hypogaeic, soil living ants are still neglected to a large extent. To remedy this, in this paper we explore the effects of rainforest transformation cash crop monocultures on abundance, richness and community composition of soil living ants (Formicidae). Ants in this study were procured as a by-product of extensive sampling of soil meso- and macrofauna along a land-use gradient from lowland rainforest via jungle rubber to monocultures of rubber and oil palm in Jami Province, Sumatra, Indonesia. Sampled in 32 plots of 50 * 50 m each, with three 16 cm * 16 cm * 5 cm soil cores each, we collected 2.079 worker ant individuals, belonging to 90 morphospecies from 37 genera and six subfamilies. Land use had a significant effect on abundance and richness, while distance-based community composition was not affected. Cumulatively, lowland rainforest had the highest number of ant species exclusively living in it, and the highest average ant abundance, although multiple comparison tests did not detect significant differences. We also found highest species richness in the lowland rainforest in one of the two investigated landscapes, while not significantly different from the agricultural systems in the other. High abundance variances among the sample sites suggest inadequacy of the sampling method, however. Despite that, our study provides a first glimpse into hypogaeic ant community responses to rainforest conversion to cash crop monocultures in Sumatra, Indonesia.

Save the survivors: the remarkable ant diversity of the last protected fragment of savanna in Southern Brazil

The Brazilian savanna (Cerrado biome), now reduced to about 173,500 km2 of its original two million km2 range, is one of the most threatened biomes in the world. In the meridional limit of this biome is the Cerrado State Park (CSP), state of Parana, Brazil, the only savanna conservation unit in Southern Brazil. This survey of the arboreal and ground-dwelling ants of the park obtained 136 species in 36 genera and eight subfamilies, an expressive diversity given the size, degree of isolation and location of the park. There was a high stratification of the ant community with a dominance of ground-dwelling species. Camponotus crispulus, Pheidole exigua, and Pheidole scapulata are new records for Southern Brazil. The ponerine genus Mayaponera and 13 species from several genera are recorded for the first time for the state of Parana. The great number of ant species found and the presence of rarely collected elements of the Neotropical ant fauna indicate that this is one of the most diverse areas of savanna in Brazil. However, the CSP is severely threatened by anthropic activities, such as monocultures, cultivation of exotic plants, and livestock. Even more concerning is a recent new law approved by the government of Parana that allows the touristic exploitation of reserves like the CSP by private companies. If an effective conservation effort to preserve the park area is not taken, we will certainly witness the extinction of the last assembly of ants from the Brazilian Cerrado in Southern Brazil, along with other elements of the biodiversity associated with the CSP.

Ant Species Richness Variation Mediated by Seasonality in Two Ant-Acacias from Oaxaca, Mexico

Climatic conditions affect the richness of ants resulting in number variation throughout the year. The ants present in the Neotropical system Acacia-Pseudomyrmex have been previously studied considering only one sampling season. In contrast, in this study we analyze the richness in two ant-acacia systems during the rainy and dry seasons. The study was carried out on a plot located in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico where 14 ant species, 3 mutualistic and 11 non-mutualistic were found, of which 2 represent new records for the state. Ant species number differed between ant-acacia species and between seasons. The highest richness was recorded in Acacia hindsii in both rainy and dry seasons, corresponding with a low-reward host. During the dry season, A. hindsii represents a highly valuable resource. This study shows that the neotropical system is much more dynamic than it has been previously considered and offers a valuable opportunity for subsequent ecological studies for a better understanding of this complex system.

Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in a Temperate Ecosystem from La Malinche National Park, Mexico

The formicofauna of temperate Mexican ecosystems have been studied poorly. The objective of this study was to document the number of ant species in the protected natural area of La Malinche National Park, which features a temperate ecosystem in central Mexico. Furthermore, this study serves to update the list of species for Tlaxcala State in this area of the country. During 2015 to 2016, samples were collected along six 400 m linear transects in oak forest and agricultural land (2,700, 2,800, and 2,900 masl), using pitfall traps, baits with either protein or sugar, and hand collection from plants (where ants were foraging for floral nectar, extrafloral nectar, or honeydew). Twenty-three ant species belonging to 14 genera, 11 tribes, and 4 subfamilies were collected in La Malinche National Park. One genus (Brachymyrmex Mayr [Hymenoptera: Formicidae]), 7 species in the park, and 5 species in Tlaxcala State were new collection records. In pitfall traps, 23 species were recorded, where Dorymyrmex insanus Buckley, Formica densiventris Viereck, Lasius mexicanus Wheeler, and Brachymyrmex musculus Forel (all Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were collected exclusively from agricultural land. Temnothorax brevispinosus MacKay and Stenamma huachucanum Smith (both Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were collected exclusively in the oak forest, whereas 17 species were recovered from both habitats. Nine species were recorded from either protein or sugar baits; Formica propatula Francoeur and Temnothorax texanus Wheeler (both Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were recorded only in tuna baits, and with the remainder of the species collected with tuna and honey. Seven ant species were recorded from hand collections on plants. We have increased the number of ant species in Tlaxcala State from 53 to 58 (28 of which are present in La Malinche National Park). This faunal survey demonstrated that there is a great diversity of ant species in this temperate ecosystem. It is urgent to document the diversity of formicofauna in these types of ecosystems because they may possibly be the first to be negatively affected by climate change. Resumen La formicofauna de los ecosistemas templados ha sido pobremente estudiada. El objetivo de este estudio fue documentar el numero de especies de hormigas en el area natural protegida del Parque Nacional La Malinche, que cuenta con un ecosistema templado en el centro de Mexico. Ademas, este estudio actualiza la lista de especies de hormigas para el Estado de Tlaxcala en esta area del pais. Durante 2015 y 2016, las muestras fueron colectadas a lo largo de seis transectos lineales de 400 m en bosque de encino y campo de cultivo (2.700, 2.800, y 2.900 m sobre el nivel del mar), usando trampas pitfall, cebos con proteina o azucar, y colecta manual sobre plantas (donde las hormigas estaban forrajeando nectar floral, nectar extrafloral, o honeydew). Veintitres especies de hormigas pertenecientes a 14 generos, 11 tribus, y 4 subfamilias fueron colectadas en el Parque Nacional La Malinche. Un genero (Brachymyrmex Mayr [Hymenoptera: Formicidae]), 7 especies en el Parque Nacional La Malinche, y 5 especies en el estado de Tlaxcala fueron nuevos registros. En trampas pitfall, 23 especies fueron colectadas, de estas, Dorymyrmex insanus Buckley, Formica densiventris Viereck, Lasius mexicanus Wheeler, y B. musculus Forel (todas Hymenoptera: Formicidae) fueron exclusivamente colectadas del campo de cultivo. Temnothorax brevispinosus MacKay y Stenamma huachucanum Smith (ambas Hymenoptera: Formicidae) fueron exclusivamente colectadas en el bosque de encino, mientras que 17 especies se registraron en ambos habitats. Nueve especies fueron colectadas con cebos de proteina o azucar; Formica propatula Francoeur y Temnothorax texanus Wheeler (ambas Hymenoptera: Formicidae) fueron registradas solo en cebos de atun, y el resto de las especies fueron registradas en cebos de atun y miel. Siete especies fueron registradas a partir de la colecta manual sobre las plantas. Hemos incrementado el numero de especies de hormigas conocidas en el estado de Tlaxcala de 53 a 58 (28 de las cuales estan presentes en el Parque Nacional La Malinche). Este estudio de fauna demostro que hay una gran diversidad de especies de hormigas en este ecosistema templado. Es urgente documentar la diversidad de formicofauna en estos tipos de ecosistemas porque esta puede ser posiblemente la primera en ser afectada negativamente por el cambio climatico. Key Words: Tlaxcala State; Formicinae; Myrmicinae; oak forest; agricultural land; protected natural area View this article in BioOne

Partial clearing of a road corridor leads to homogenisation of the invertebrate fauna

A recent plan to extend a highway in south-west Western Australia has been abandoned, but not before a 10–200m wide strip of vegetation along the alignment had been cleared. Attempts are now being made to rehabilitate the cleared area. The aim of this paper is 2-fold. First, it documents the changes in invertebrate abundance, richness and evenness in this abandoned landmark development. Second, it explores the changes in invertebrate species composition, concentrating on ants, in terms of known trends in biodiversity, with particular emphasis on biotic homogenisation. We report on the immediate changes in invertebrate assemblages from a spatial continuum of sites passing through six discrete woodland communities. A total of 69 species of ants were sampled by pitfall traps from the sites, with 50 being sampled in the 7 reference sites and 46 in the 13 cleared sites. As far as most of these simple indices are concerned, the previously cleared areas generally exhibited values that are not appreciably different from those of the reference sites, except that species richness was marginally higher in the reference sites and ant abundance was higher in the cleared area sites. There was considerable variation in numbers of ant species within Ant Niche Template categories in both the reference and cleared area sites. However, numbers of nest specialists and trophic specialists were significantly lower in cleared area sites; opportunistic species and one generalist were more abundant in cleared areas. The two-dimensional solution of the multi-dimensional scaling ordination grouped all cleared sites close together, with the reference sites and modified native vegetation site being widely scattered across the graph. The tight bunching of the cleared sites suggests that clearing for the proposed highway has resulted in homogenising the ant fauna, creating a characteristic assemblage that differed from all of the original reference sites. When considered at the ordinal level, significantly less Clitellata (worms), Malacostraca (slaters), Araneae (spiders), Blattodea (cockroaches), Dermaptera (earwigs) and Coleoptera (beetles) were sampled from the cleared sites, but significantly more Collembola (springtails), Homoptera and Heteroptera (both types of sucking bugs) were sampled in these sites. Collembola may be responding to the abundance of exotic grasses whereas the sucking bugs may have benefitted from the lush herb and shrub layer associated with the regrowth and rehabilitation efforts.

Uma jornada científica na Amazônia: revisitando os 121 anos do acervo de Formicidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi

Ao longo de mais de 100 anos de história, o acervo do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi (MPEG) acumulou uma expressiva quantidade de espécies de formigas coletadas por meio de expedições científicas e por sua atuação como instituição fiel depositária. Organizar, qualificar, estudar e disponibilizar essas informações tornam o acervo uma poderosa ferramenta para estudos em diferentes áreas. Neste artigo, reportamos um breve histórico dos principais acontecimentos científicos e históricos que refletiram na formação e consolidação do acervo de formigas do MPEG, atualmente com cerca de 300.000 espécimes. Também discutimos perspectivas e estratégias adotadas, visando tornar a coleção uma referência para estudos envolvendo formigas da região amazônica.

Effect of agricultural land‐use change on the structure of a temperate forest ant–plant interaction network

AbstractStudies on the responses of ant–plant interactions to land‐use change have mainly focused on tropical habitats, usually without considering the impacts on the structure of interaction networks. Here we show that land‐use modifies the structure of the ant–plant interaction networks in a temperate habitat. Ant–plant interactions and plant diversity were recorded in an oak forest and agricultural land in central Mexico. We registered five ant species in the oak forest, and four ant species in the agricultural land. Plant diversity was higher in the agricultural land than in the oak forest. In the ant–plant networks of both sites, our results showed a higher dependence of ants on the plants on which they feed than vice versa, and the ants Formica spp. and the plants Barkleyanthus salicifolius were the species with the most strength and greatest influence in the network structure. The ant–plant network in the oak forest showed a nested structure. However, the network at the agricultural land site showed non‐nestedness; the identity of both ants and plants with the highest values of specialization was different and the number of ant species in the network was decreased, but the number of plant species with which they interacted significantly increased. Both ant–plant networks were equally tolerant to simulated extinction of individual species. We conclude that temperate forest ant–plant networks can be inherently fragile and susceptible to the effects of agricultural land‐use change, not on the number of interacting species but on their identity.