Recolonization Patterns of Ants in a Rehabilitated Lignite Mine in Central Italy: Potential for the Use of Mediterranean Ants as Indicators of Restoration Processes

Abstract

Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) assemblages were sampled with pitfall traps in three different habitats associated with a rehabilitated mine district and in undisturbed forests in Tuscany, Italy. The four habitats were (1) open fields (3-4 years old); (2) a middle-age mixed plantation (10 years); (3) an old-age mixed plantation (20 years); and (4) an oak woodland (40 years) not directly affected by mining activities. The aim of the study was to analyze ant recolonization patterns in order to provide insights on the use of Mediterranean ant fauna as indicators of restoration processes. Species richness and diversity were not significantly different among the four habitats. However, multivariate analyses showed that the assemblages in the different habitats were clearly differentiated, with similarity relationships reflecting a successional gradient among rehabilitated sites. The observed patterns of functional group changes along the gradient broadly accord with those of previous studies in other biogeographic regions. These were (1) a decrease of dominant Dolichoderinae and opportunists; (2) an increase in the proportion of cold-climate specialists; and (3) the appearance of the Cryptic species in the oldest plantations, with a maximum of abundance in the woodland. In conclusion, the results of our study supported the use of Mediterranean ants as a suitable tool for biomonitoring of restoration processes, and in particular, the functional group approach proved a valuable framework to better interpret local trends in terms of global ecological patterns. Further research is, however, needed in order to obtain a reliable classification of Mediterranean ant functional groups.

Riqueza e composição de espécies de formigas no processo de recuperação de uma voçoroca

“…A não relação entre o tempo de recuperação e a riqueza de formigas é comum (COELHO et al, 2009;NICHOLS;NICHOLS, 2003;OTTONETTI et al, 2006), e pode-se inferir que, neste estudo, mesmo com o aumento da disponibilidade dos recursos e melhoria nas condições ambientais ao longo da recuperação, as espécies ainda podem competir pelos mesmos o que não leva a um aumento do número de espécies (CORRÊA et al, 2006). Outras possíveis explicações são que o remanescente florestal e a pastagem são muito próximos e a colonização por espécies de formigas pode ser rápida ou a recuperação, com o incremento na riqueza e abundância de espécies vegetais, não é suficiente para que as formigas percebam essa mudança como melhores condições e recursos para seu estabelecimento nas áreas.…”

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

“…Ants were sorted into morphospecies and all specimens were assigned to different functional groups: Subordinate Camponotini (SC), Hot-climate Specialists (HC), Coldclimate Specialists (CC), Cryptic Species (Cr), Opportunists (Op), and Generalized Myrmicinae (GM -Andersen 1995). Although this classification still suffers from problems of interpretation, it has also gained acceptance in the Mediterranean region (Gómez et al 2003, Ottonetti et al 2006, Azcarate & Peco 2012.…”

“…Ants are well represented in almost all terrestrial habitats because of a wide range of thermal niches and their ability to cope in varying environmental conditions. Most studies focusing on the use of ants as bioindicators have been conducted in Australia, and North and South America, whereas less attention has been devoted to understanding the anthropogenic impact on European ant communities (Castracani & Mori 2006, Ottonetti et al 2006, Castracani et al 2010, Azcarate & Peco 2012, Satta et al 2012. The analysis of ant community structures in relation to habitat stress or disturbance could be a valuable tool to detect early environmental changes in diterranean habitats (Cammell et al 1996, Gómez et al 2003, Castracani et al 2010.…”

Formation of Mesoherpetobionts Communities on a Reclamated Coal Open Pit Dump

“…It should be noted that a significant part of the work is aimed at studying the ecological and faunistic features of certain groups of mesoherpetobionts only, such as ground beetles [2-6] and ants [7,8]. At the same time, there are no data on the structure of the entire complex of mesoherpetobionts arthropods formed on young reclaimed dumps.…”