Ant diversity and its relationship with vegetation and soil factors in an alluvial fan of the Tehuacán Valley, Mexico

Ríos-Casanova, Leticia; Valiente‐Banuet, Alfonso; Rico-Gray, Víctor

doi:10.1016/j.actao.2005.12.001

Cited by 42 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…The richness of genera found in the study is higher (21 with 39 species) than the richness recorded in other studies carried out in natural arid areas in central Mexico (14 genera with 28 species; Ríos-Casanova et al, 2004), and in a previous study carried out in the same area (16 genera with 21 species; Hernández-Ruiz & Castaño-Meneses, 2006), both with a lower collection effort.…”

Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 52%

Composition and functional groups of epiedaphic ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in irrigated agroecosystem and in nonagricultural areas

Hernández-Ruiz

Castaño-Meneses

Cano‐Santana

2009

Pesq. agropec. bras.

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-The objective of this work was to evaluate the species composition and functional groups of ants in nonagricultural (NA) and in irrigated areas (S, seasonal irrigation; P, irrigation with well water; W, irrigation with wastewater) in an arid agricultural region in central Mexico, throughout 2005 and2006. A total of 52,358 ants belonging to 6 subfamilies, 21 genera and 39 species was collected using pitfall traps. The species best represented in all plots were: Forelius pruinosus, Pheidole obtusospinosa, Monomorium minimum and Dorymyrmex spp. NA plots recorded the highest density of ants. The highest values for diversity (H') and equitativity (J') were recorded in NA and P plots, while the lowest were recorded in W plots. Cluster analysis showed two different groups regarding species composition: NA-S and W-P. Functional groups recorded were: dominant Dolichoderinae, three species; subordinate Camponotini, fi ve species; hot climate specialists, three species; tropical climate specialists, seven species; cold climate specialists, fi ve species; cryptic species, one species; opportunists, six species; generalized Myrmicinae, nine species. Agricultural activity affects the structure of the ant community with epiedaphic forage, and the constant use of irrigation wastewater in conjunction with intense agricultural practices has negative effect upon species richness of epiedaphic ants.Index terms: biodiversity, irrigated area, semiarid zone, wastewater. Composição e grupos funcionais de formigas epiedáfi cas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) em agroecossistema irrigado e em áreas não agrícolasResumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a composição de espécies e os grupos funcionais de formigas em áreas não agrícolas (NA) e em áreas irrigadas (S, irrigação sazonal; P, irrigação com águas de poço; W, irrigação com água residuária) em uma região agrícola de clima árido da região Central do México durante 2005 e 2006. Um total de 52.358 formigas pertencentes a 6 subfamílias, 21 gêneros e 39 espécies foi coletado por meio de armadilhas Pitfall. As espécies mais bem representadas em todas as parcelas foram: Forelius pruinosus, Pheidole obtusospinosa, Monomorium minimum e Dorymyrmex spp. As parcelas NA registraram a maior densidade de formigas. Os maiores valores de diversidade (H') e equitatividade (J') foram observados nas parcelas NA e P, e os menores, nas parcelas W. A análise de cluster mostrou grupos diferentes quanto à composição de espécies: NA-S e W-P. Os grupos funcionais registrados foram: Dolichoderinae dominantes, três espécies; Camponotini subordinadas, cinco espécies; especialistas de clima quente, três espécies; especialistas de clima tropical, sete espécies; especialistas de clima frio, cinco espécies; espécies crípticas, uma espécie; oportunistas, seis espécies; Myrmicinae generalizados, nove espécies. A atividade de agricultura afeta a estrutura das comunidades das formigas epiedáfi cas e a utilização constante de irrigação com água residuária, em conjunto com práticas agrícolas intensas tem um efeito...

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Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 52%

Composition and functional groups of epiedaphic ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in irrigated agroecosystem and in nonagricultural areas

Hernández-Ruiz

Castaño-Meneses

Cano‐Santana

2009

Pesq. agropec. bras.

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“…Por el contrario, la información sobre la importancia relativa de esta interacción en desiertos tropicales es prácticamente inexistente (Ibáñez & Soriano 2004). Los estudios previamente realizados en las zonas semiáridas del centro de México (Valle de Tehuacán) (Guzmán 2004;Ríos-Casanova et al 2004;Ríos-Casanova 2005;Ríos-Casanova et al 2006) sugieren que las hormigas podrían tener un papel importante en la remoción de semillas en la región. Sin embargo, hasta el momento no existen estudios sobre esta interacción ni sobre la respuesta de las hormigas a la transformación del hábitat y sus consecuencias sobre la remoción de semillas.…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

“…El presente trabajo se llevó a cabo en una porción del Valle de Tehuacán-Cuicatlán, una zona semidesértica del centro de México en la que se ha reportado a la hormiga Pogonoyrmex barbatus como uno de los elementos granívoros más importantes (Ríos-Casanova et al 2004, Ríos-Casanova 2005Ríos-Casanova et al 2006;Guzmán-Mendoza et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Remoción de Semillas en Hábitats Transformados: Pogonomyrmex barbatus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) y Cinco Especies de Cactáceas del Centro de México

2014

Self Cite

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RESUMENUna de las consecuencias de la realización de actividades humanas en las zonas semiáridas es la transformación del hábitat. En este trabajo se estudió el efecto de dicha transformación sobre la tasa de remoción de semillas, de cinco especies de catcáceas, por la hormiga Pogonomyrmex barbatus. El estudio se realizó en el Valle de Zapotitlán Salinas, una zona semiárida del centro de México. Se estudiaron tres sitios que han estado bajo diferentes actividades humanas: un campo de cultivo abandonado (CCA), una terraza con evidencia de actividades humanas actuales y una zona con pocas actividades dentro de un jardín botánico ( JB). La hipótesis fue que el sitio que ha sido más transformado (CCA) tendría las tasas de remoción de semillas más bajas por presentar condiciones más adversas para la actividad de forrajeo de las hormigas. Los resultados mostraron que la transformación del hábitat afecta las tasas de remoción de las cinco especies de cactáceas estudiadas. Las tasas más bajas de remoción de semillas se encontraron en CCA y las más altas en TAH. Este resultado podría deberse a que TAH es un sitio muy heterogéneo que aún tiene algunas características que permiten una actividad de forrajeo alta por parte de las hormigas. También se encontró que la tasa de remoción de semillas varió ente las diferentes especies de cactáceas. Las semillas de Escontria chiotilla tuvieron la remoción más alta y las de Opuntia decumbens la más baja. Las diferencias en la remoción de semillas podrían estar asociadas con los cambios que las actividades humanas han ocasionado en la vegetación y en la superficie del suelo. Sin embargo la morfología externa de las semillas también debe ser considerada ya que en este estudio se encontró que las semillas más pequeñas fueron las más removidas.

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“…This thermal effect might have been particularly intense and amplified in Maâmora, where the canopy cover is low and the soil is mainly sandy and has a very low organic matter content (Aafi et al 2005). According to the literature, Hot-Climate Specialists are also abundant in Maâmora, as a likely result of the combination of soil type and vegetation cover, which constitute the main determining factors of ant assemblages (Bestelmeyer & Wiens 2001, Ríos-Casanova et al 2006). Although we were not able to identify the drivers of spatial variation in the community composition in depth, the lack of significant differences in ant assemblages within the Maâmora district could be related to environmental and management factors.…”

Section: Iforest -Biogeosciences and Forestrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Variability of ant community composition in cork oak woodlands across the Mediterranean region: implications for forest management

Verdinelli¹,

Yakhlef²,

Cossu³

et al. 2017

iForest

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We evaluated the potential use of ants as a powerful tool for environmental monitoring, together with the applicability of the functional group approach as an alternative method for studying ant communities in cork oak woodlands. Variations in ant community composition, diversity and functional groups were studied in two cork oak forested sites across the Mediterranean region. Ants were sampled using pitfall traps placed along linear transects at 12 sites located in the main cork districts of Italy and Morocco (Gallura in Sardinia, and Maâmora, east of Rabat). A total of 13,501 specimens were collected, belonging to 38 species (five shared species). A distinct separation in the NMDS plots between Gallura and Maâmora ant assemblages was clearly visible. Ant species composition was widely different between the two districts and significant differences were detected within the Gallura district at the species level. Opportunist species were well represented in Gallura (about 27% of average BrayCurtis similarity) as well as cryptic species (over 23%). In the Maâmora forest, generalized Myrmicinae, hot climate specialists and opportunists contributed equally to the average similarity (together about 53%). Multi-scale ant diversity showed that the true turnover was higher in Gallura than in Maâmora. These findings support the idea that the functional group approach, rather than species diversity per se, could be considered as a valuable tool to detect the response of the ant community to environmental changes in Mediterranean cork oak woodlands. Using ants as bioindicators could help not only in detecting early warning signs of habitat disturbance, but also in defining a useful management strategy to increase the resilience of agroforestry systems under future global change scenarios.

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Ant diversity and its relationship with vegetation and soil factors in an alluvial fan of the Tehuacán Valley, Mexico

Cited by 42 publications

References 30 publications

Composition and functional groups of epiedaphic ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in irrigated agroecosystem and in nonagricultural areas

Composition and functional groups of epiedaphic ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in irrigated agroecosystem and in nonagricultural areas

Remoción de Semillas en Hábitats Transformados: Pogonomyrmex barbatus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) y Cinco Especies de Cactáceas del Centro de México

Variability of ant community composition in cork oak woodlands across the Mediterranean region: implications for forest management

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