Ant diversity and abundance in pasture system and two agricultural land uses in the Rashad district, Southern Sudan

Abstract

The most common ecological consequence of biodiversity loss is a reduction in ecosystem functions. These responses, however, vary depending on the type of land-use change and the ecological setting. This study investigated the impact of land-use type and ecosystem functions on the ant assemblage of Rashad district, Sudan. Therefore, the purposes of this study are to evaluate the composition and structure of the ant assembly in the station, as well as to determine the trophic guilds and functional groups and their spatial variation in three different land uses. Furthermore, based on the type of land use to determine how the conversion of native vegetation affects the richness and composition of ant species. In each location, we sampled three 20-meter-long transects (Sample plot). Each sample plot consisted of a grid of 12 pitfall traps arranged in three rows of four traps each, with a 2 m spacing between them, replicated six times in a single year. We collected 38 ant species from four subfamilies and 17 genera. Parasyscia lamborni was the most abundant species followed by Bothroponera crassa. Ant diversity was higher in Soy monoculture and Organic farming than in the Pasture. The frequency distributions of ant Functional groups in Soy monoculture and Organic farming were significantly different from the frequency distributions in the pasture. The omnivorous and predator’s trophic guilds were the best represented and regarding functional groups. We found a high proportion of tropical climate specialists and Myrmicinae generalists. These findings suggest that Pasture Activation reduces ant diversity. It can also help to increase the population of species with a diverse diet that predominate in areas where stress and disturbance prevent other ants from reproducing.