Factors influence the species richness of ants in urban woods.

Abstract

We analysed environmental factors affecting species richness of ants at 38 woodlots in Kyoto City. Ants were recorded by a time unit sampling method with a unit of 250m2/15min. The number of the sampling unit increased by 24 with the area of woodlots. We estimated species richness of ants with the Jackknife estimation to reduce bias derived from the difference in sampling effort. Some environmental variables correlated with ant species richness were micro-habitat diversity (r= 0.667), woods area (log-transformed; r=0.624), and tree species richness (Tree S;r=0.623). These values were lower than that of tree species and area. We analysed the causal relationship with the structural equation modeling.

The contribution of the bark of isolated trees as habitat for ants in an urban landscape

“…We can manage regional arthropod communities by selecting particular tree species to plant. To increase arthropod diversity in urban landscapes, it is desirable to plant those tree species that attract the largest number of arthropod taxa (Yui et al, 2001;Kohno et al, 2003). Our study indicates that more arthropod species were associated with tree species that are native to the region (e.g., A. turbinate, I. integra and Z. serrata).…”

“…Associated with this fragmentation and loss of native vegetation are reductions in the complexity of microclimates and arthropod species richness, as well as a loss of native species and their replacement by exotics (Hashimoto et al, 1994;Gibb and Hochuli, 2002;McKinney, 2006). Vegetated areas within urban landscapes are increasingly seen as valuable refuges for local biota (Snep et al, 2006;von Haaren and Reich, 2006), and a number of studies have been conducted on arthropod communities in urban forest fragments (Hashimoto et al, 1994;Nuckols and Connor, 1995;Touyama and Nakagoshi, 1994;Yui et al, 2001;Rickman and Connor, 2003;Snep et al, 2006;Yasuda and Koike, 2006;Hodgkison et al, 2007), residential gardens (Majer and Brown, 1986), and clumps of trees in urban parks (Shimada and Maruta, 1988;Terayama, 2001;Kohno et al, 2003;Yamaguchi, 2004;McFrederick and LeBuhn, 2006). It is now recognized that planting trees might be the only option to conserve local biota in urban areas, but very few studies have examined arthropod communities on isolated trees planted in urban areas (Semlitsch and Bodie, 1998;McCoy and Mushinsky, 1999;Bhullar and Majer, 2000;Fischer and Lindenmayer, 2002).…”

Factors influencing species diversity of ferns and fern allies in fragmented forest patches in the Kyoto city area

“…The range of the study area (about 250 km 2 ) was the same as that used in the research of Murakami and Morimoto (2000) and Yui et al (2001), and the study sites (forest patches) ( Fig. 1) were almost the same.…”

“…Therefore, for nature conservation, we need to compare the patterns of the distribution of various taxa and to consider the minimum conservation area for every taxon or ways of managing forest patches. In the fragmented forest patches in the Kyoto city area, the species diversity of various taxa, including woody plants (Murakami and Morimoto, 2000), ants (Yui et al, 2001) has been investigated. Moreover, avian species, herbaceous species and mosses are investigating by different group of scientists now.…”

Structure of ant assemblages on street trees in urban Busan, Korea

“…Vegetated areas within urban landscapes are increasingly seen as valuable refuges for local biota (Snep et al ; Von Haaren & Reich ). Numerous studies have been conducted on arthropod communities in urban forest fragments (Nuckols & Connor ; Rickman & Connor ; Snep et al ; Yui et al ), residential gardens (Majer & Brown ), and clumps of trees in urban parks (McFrederick & LeBuhn ; Yamaguchi ). It is recognized that planting trees may be the only option to conserve local biota in urban areas, but very few studies have examined arthropod communities on isolated trees planted in urban areas (Bhullar & Majer ; Fischer & Lindenmayer ; Semlitsch & Bodie ).…”