Title

Diversity of arboreal and ground-dwelling ant species in a primary forest and grazed pasture

Alternative Title

Diversidad de especies de hormigas arbóreas y terrestres en un bosque primario y pastizales pastoreados

Creator

Marie F. Bostrom

Files

Publication Date

November 2000

Abstract

Ants are very important to ecosystem function. They help to aerate soil, disperse seeds, distribute nutrients, and regulate other insect populations (Holldobler and Wilson 1990). Since a non-forested area will have a larger microclimate variation than a forest, it is expected to support more species (Torres 1984). In addition, arboreal ants can be expected to have a lower overall diversity than terrestrial ants, since there may be a smaller number of species adapted to tolerate the elevated range in abiotic conditions that occurs in arboreal environments (Nadkarni and Longino 1990). Ants were collected over eight days, using traps baited with tuna and honey. The ground-dwelling ant species were significantly more diverse than arboreal ant species (modified t test, t = 3.9172, P < 0.001), and had the highest richness and capture rates. No significant difference was found in the species diversity of pasture and forest ants (modified t test, t = 0.8785, 0.5 > P > 0.2). These results may indicate that there are a lower number of ant species adapted to tolerate arboreal conditions, or that the forest’s lack of microclimatic heterogeneity contributes to a lower richness and diversity of forest species. Las hormigas son muy importantes a la función del ecosistema. Ellas se ayudan a agitar la tierra, dispersar las semillas, distribuir los nutritivos, y regular las poblaciones de otros insectos (Holldobler and Wilson 1990). Porque desde la area sin el bosque va a tener un clima más grande variación, se pree tener una diversidad total más grande que el bosque primero (Torres 1984). Además, las hormigas arbóreas van a tener una diversidad total mas bajo que hormigas terrestres, porque haya un número mas bajo adaptado de tolerar la extensión elevada de condiciones abióticas (). Las hormigas fueron recogidas para ocho días, usando trampas con atún y miel. Las especies de las hormigas que viven en el suelo fueron significativo mas variadas que las especies arbóreas (modified t test, t = 3.9172, P < 0.001), y tuvo el rango mas alto del botín. Una diferencia importante no fue encontrada entre la diversidad total de las hormigas del potrero y el bosque (modified t test, t = 0.8785, 0.5 > P > 0.2). Estos resultados demostraron que haya un mas bajo numero de especies adaptado tolerar condiciones arbóreas, o que la diversidad estructural del bosque se conceda un numero mas bajo de especies.

Keywords

Ants, Ecology, Hormigas, Ecologia, Species diversity, Diversidad de especies, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve (Costa Rica), Reserva Biologica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde (Costa Rica), Costa Rica--Puntarenas--Monteverde Zone--Monteverde, Costa Rica--Puntarenas--Zona de Monteverde--Monteverde, CIEE Fall 2000, CIEE Otoño 2000

Description

Student affiliation : Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida Digitized by MVI

Subject: topical

Ants; Ecology; Hormigas; Ecologia; Species diversity; Diversidad de especies; CIEE Fall 2000; CIEE Otoño 2000

Subject: geographic

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve (Costa Rica); Reserva Biologica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde (Costa Rica); Costa Rica--Puntarenas--Monteverde Zone--Monteverde; Costa Rica--Puntarenas--Zona de Monteverde--Monteverde

Genre

Reports

Holding Location

Monteverde Institute MVI

Identifier

M39-00041

Recommended Citation

Bostrom, Marie F., "Diversity of arboreal and ground-dwelling ant species in a primary forest and grazed pasture" (2000). Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]. 149.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/tropical_ecology/149