Diversity, Biogeography and Community Ecology of Ants II

A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Biodiversity Loss & Dynamics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 14513

Special Issue Editor

Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia
Interests: ant diversity; biogeography and community ecology; ant–plant interactions; invertebrate bioindicators; fire ecology; tropical savannas
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ants are a highly diverse and ecologically dominant faunal group globally. They play important roles in most terrestrial ecosystems as soil engineers, predators and re-cyclers of nutrients, and have particularly important interactions with plants as defenders against herbivores, as seed dispersers and as seed predators. Ants are model organisms for studies of community ecology, making important contributions to an understanding of niche dynamics, species co-existence, and community assembly. Ants are widely used as bio-indicators in land management. Despite the ecological dominance of ants, a large proportion of species remain undescribed, the biogeographic histories of many taxa remain poorly known, and we have a limited understanding of spatial patterns of diversity and composition, along with the processes driving these patterns. We are seeking contributions to this Special Issue that relate to any aspect of the diversity, biogeography, and community ecology of ants.

Prof. Dr. Alan N. Andersen
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • ants
  • ant–plant interactions
  • bioindicators
  • biogeography
  • community ecology
  • ecosystem function
  • functional groups

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 4824 KiB  
Article
Morphological Strategies in Ant Communities along Elevational Gradients in Three Mountain Ranges
by Heloise Gibb, Peter Contos, Manoli Photakis, Iona Okey, Robert R. Dunn, Nathan J. Sanders and Mirkka M. Jones
Diversity 2024, 16(1), 48; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16010048 - 12 Jan 2024
Viewed by 920
Abstract
Species traits often vary in a coordinated manner, making up an ecological strategy comprised of suites of interrelated traits. Environmental gradients, such as those along elevational gradients, provide an ideal venue in which to examine variation in ecological strategies with the environment. We [...] Read more.
Species traits often vary in a coordinated manner, making up an ecological strategy comprised of suites of interrelated traits. Environmental gradients, such as those along elevational gradients, provide an ideal venue in which to examine variation in ecological strategies with the environment. We examined variation in the morphological strategies of ants along elevational gradients on thirteen mountains across three mountain ranges in central and south-eastern Australia. We pitfall-trapped ants, counted and identified workers and measured morphological traits. Most species showed a hump-shaped relationship between occurrence and elevation, and several responded to microhabitat variables. Morphological traits varied along two key axes: “gracility”, where high values indicated longer-legged species with dorsally positioned eyes and smooth, bare cuticles; and “size and darkness”, where species with high values were larger and darker. Analysis of assemblage-weighted means revealed that gracility decreased with temperature and increased with precipitation, suggesting links with desiccation tolerance. Size and darkness increased with UV-B, declined with increasing canopy cover and peaked at mid-temperatures. We thus detected strong shifts in dominant morphological strategies along our elevational gradients. However, the multifunctionality and interrelatedness of traits and the covariance of climatic factors may make isolation of the function of individual traits difficult. Further, the predictive power of our models may be limited in the context of novel environments predicted under global change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Biogeography and Community Ecology of Ants II)
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14 pages, 1921 KiB  
Article
Nutrient Supplementation to Arboreal Ants: Effects on Trophic Position, Thermal Tolerance, Community Structure and the Interaction with the Host-Tree
by Lino A. Zuanon, Ruthe E. O. S. Leão, Adilson Quero, Karen C. Neves and Heraldo L. Vasconcelos
Diversity 2023, 15(6), 786; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15060786 - 18 Jun 2023
Viewed by 1070
Abstract
Carbohydrates and proteins are essential to maintain the basic functions of animals. Over the course of one year we conducted a factorial experiment to determine the influence of carbohydrate (sucrose) and protein supplementation on the thermal tolerance, trophic position, overall abundance, species richness [...] Read more.
Carbohydrates and proteins are essential to maintain the basic functions of animals. Over the course of one year we conducted a factorial experiment to determine the influence of carbohydrate (sucrose) and protein supplementation on the thermal tolerance, trophic position, overall abundance, species richness and composition, and on the strength of the protective effects of arboreal ants on their host tree (Caryocar brasiliense). Using Azteca ants as a model we found evidence of dietary and thermal plasticity among arboreal ants as colonies supplied with protein increased their trophic level relative to colonies that received no protein. Colonies that received sucrose increased their thermal tolerance on average by 1.5 °C over a six-month period, whereas those that did not receive sucrose did not change their thermal tolerance. Overall ant abundance was lower in control trees than in those that received any nutrient addition treatment. Species richness was also lower in control trees, but those receiving sucrose presented more species than those receiving only protein. There was greater similarity in species composition between the trees that received sucrose than between these and those receiving only protein or just water as control. Trees whose ant colonies received sucrose presented lower levels of leaf damage than those that did not. Overall, these results indicate that food resources can modulate the population and community ecology of arboreal ants as well as their interaction with the host trees. Interestingly, although arboreal ants are thought to be N-limited, it was the supplementation of sucrose—not protein—that elicited most of the responses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Biogeography and Community Ecology of Ants II)
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12 pages, 14919 KiB  
Article
Unrecognised Ant Megadiversity in Monsoonal Australia: The Tetramorium spininode Bolton Group in the Northern Territory
by Alan N. Andersen, François Brassard and Benjamin D. Hoffmann
Diversity 2023, 15(4), 476; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15040476 - 24 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1152
Abstract
We document unrecognised diversity within the Tetramorium spininode Bolton group of the Australian monsoonal tropics, which has a single described species. At the time of its description, T. spininode was known from just two collections, but there have since been hundreds of collections [...] Read more.
We document unrecognised diversity within the Tetramorium spininode Bolton group of the Australian monsoonal tropics, which has a single described species. At the time of its description, T. spininode was known from just two collections, but there have since been hundreds of collections from throughout monsoonal Australia. We document morphological and genetic (CO1) variation within the group’s fauna of the Northern Territory (NT), in the centre of its range, where collection intensity has been highest. We recognise 20 species among 124 CO1-sequenced specimens, and 32 species in total from the NT. A key to these species is provided. The most intensively sampled regions within the NT are the mesic (>1000 mm mean annual rainfall) Top End in the far north (with 14 species) and the semi-arid (500–900 mm) Sturt Plateau region to its south (13 species). Only one species is known from both regions. Given such high regional turnover and highly patchy sampling, we estimate that at least 40 species of the T. spininode group occur in the NT. Similar diversity appears to occur in Western Australia, especially in the Kimberley region, but less in Queensland. Our findings suggest that the total number of species in the T. spininode group is likely to be around 100. Our study provides further evidence that monsoonal Australia is an unrecognised global centre of ant diversity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Biogeography and Community Ecology of Ants II)
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15 pages, 2461 KiB  
Article
Investigating the Diversity of Wolbachia across the Spiny Ants (Polyrhachis)
by Jenna L. Webb, Leland C. Graber, Manuela O. Ramalho and Corrie S. Moreau
Diversity 2023, 15(3), 348; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15030348 - 01 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1575
Abstract
Among insects, Wolbachia is an exceedingly common bacterial endosymbiont with a range of consequences of infection. Despite the frequency of Wolbachia infection, very little is known about this bacteria’s diversity and role within hosts, especially within ant hosts. In this study, we analyze [...] Read more.
Among insects, Wolbachia is an exceedingly common bacterial endosymbiont with a range of consequences of infection. Despite the frequency of Wolbachia infection, very little is known about this bacteria’s diversity and role within hosts, especially within ant hosts. In this study, we analyze the occurrence and diversity of Wolbachia across the spiny ants (Polyrhachis), a large and geographically diverse genus. Polyrhachis samples from throughout the host genus’ phylogenetic and biogeographical range were first screened for single infections of Wolbachia using the wsp gene and Sanger sequencing. The multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme was then used on these singly infected samples to identify the Wolbachia strains. A Wolbachia phylogeny was inferred from the Polyrhachis samples analyzed in this study as well as other Formicidae MLST profiles from the MLST online database. We hypothesized that three key host factors were impacting Wolbachia diversity within the Polyrhachis genus: biogeography, phylogeny, and species level. The results suggest that the phylogeny and biogeography of Polyrhachis hosts have no impact on Wolbachia diversity; however, species level may have some limited influence. Additionally, Wolbachia strains appear to group according to being either Old World or New World strains. Among the taxa able to form complete MLST allelic profiles, all twenty are seemingly new strains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Biogeography and Community Ecology of Ants II)
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15 pages, 2058 KiB  
Article
Patterns of European Ant Communities Reveal a Functionally Coherent Holarctic Fauna
by Benjamin D. Hoffmann and Alan N. Andersen
Diversity 2023, 15(3), 341; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15030341 - 27 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 914
Abstract
Here we examine the extent to which European patterns of ant diversity and functional composition conform with those documented in North America. Following protocols previously used in North America, ant species distribution and behavioural dominance were quantified at fifteen sites on two environmental [...] Read more.
Here we examine the extent to which European patterns of ant diversity and functional composition conform with those documented in North America. Following protocols previously used in North America, ant species distribution and behavioural dominance were quantified at fifteen sites on two environmental gradients, one following elevation (140–1830 m) in France and the other tree cover (0–95%) in Denmark. Pitfall traps were used to assess species distributions, and behaviour at tuna baits was used to inform behavioural dominance. We specifically test three predictions based on North American patterns: (1) Species richness and overall levels of behavioural dominance will decline with increasing thermal stress. (2) Geographic patterns of key taxa in Europe will be consistent with those in North America. (3) Behavioural dominance of European taxa will be consistent with related taxa in North America. We then use our results to classify the European ant fauna into functional groups, as had been done for North American ants. Based on these functional groups, we analyse distributional patterns along our gradients and re-analyse ant community data from published studies to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the structure of European ant communities. Distributional and behavioural predictions of the European ant taxa were consistent with those in North America. Geographical patterns of functional-group composition were very similar to those previously recorded for North America, varying systematically and predictably along the environmental gradients. Our findings indicate that there is a functionally coherent ant fauna throughout the Holarctic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Biogeography and Community Ecology of Ants II)
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21 pages, 3551 KiB  
Article
Impact of Nesting Mode, Diet, and Taxonomy in Structuring the Associated Microbial Communities of Amazonian Ants
by Anaïs Chanson, Corrie S. Moreau and Christophe Duplais
Diversity 2023, 15(2), 126; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020126 - 17 Jan 2023
Viewed by 1396
Abstract
Studies of ant biodiversity are important to understand their group better, as well as to extend our knowledge on the evolution of their associated organisms. Host-associated microbial communities, and particularly bacterial communities, are shaped by different host factors such as habitat, diet, and [...] Read more.
Studies of ant biodiversity are important to understand their group better, as well as to extend our knowledge on the evolution of their associated organisms. Host-associated microbial communities, and particularly bacterial communities, are shaped by different host factors such as habitat, diet, and phylogeny. Here, we studied the structures of bacterial and microbial eukaryote communities associated with Amazonian ants collected from two habitats: the rainforest and the city. We collected 38 ant species covering a large taxonomic range, and we used 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA amplicon sequencing to study the impact of the host’s ecological and phylogenetic factors on their microbial communities. Our results show that (1) habitat does not structure ant microbial communities, (2) ant diet and nesting mode impact bacterial communities, while only nesting mode structures microbial eukaryote communities, and (3) microbial diversity is not correlated with host phylogeny, although several ant genera have conserved bacterial communities. As we continue to uncover the diversity and function of insect-associated microbes, this work explores how host ecology and evolutionary history shape ant microbial communities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Biogeography and Community Ecology of Ants II)
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20 pages, 2295 KiB  
Article
Diversity and Resilience of Seed-Removing Ant Species in Longleaf Sandhill to Frequent Fire
by Rachel A. Atchison and Andrea Lucky
Diversity 2022, 14(12), 1012; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14121012 - 22 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1520
Abstract
Prescribed fire is used globally as a habitat restoration tool and is widely accepted as supporting biotic diversity. However, in fire-prone ecosystems, research has sometimes documented post-fire reduction in ant diversity and accompanying changes in seed removal behavior. This is concerning because ants [...] Read more.
Prescribed fire is used globally as a habitat restoration tool and is widely accepted as supporting biotic diversity. However, in fire-prone ecosystems, research has sometimes documented post-fire reduction in ant diversity and accompanying changes in seed removal behavior. This is concerning because ants provide important ecosystem services that can aid in restoration efforts, including seed dispersal. In this study, we examined the immediate impacts of fire in the well-studied ant community of longleaf pine forests (LLP) in the SE USA. We surveyed seed-removing ant species in a LLP sandhill ecosystem to investigate the effects of prescribed fire and coarse woody debris (CWD), a nesting and foraging resource, on ant community composition and ant–seed interactions. Seed-removing ants comprised a significant portion of detected ant species (20 of 45); eight of these species are documented removing seeds for the first time. Following an experimentally applied low-intensity summer burn, decreases in seed remover detection were observed, along with reductions in the number of seeds removed, across both burned and unburned areas; neither prescribed fire nor proximity to CWD significantly influenced these factors. Together, these results show that seed-removing ant species constitute a substantial proportion of the LLP sandhill ant community and are relatively robust to habitat changes mediated by low-intensity prescribed burning during the growing season. Considering ant community resiliency to fire, we can infer that using prescribed fire aligns with the goals of restoring and maintaining biotic diversity in this fire-prone ecosystem. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Biogeography and Community Ecology of Ants II)
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15 pages, 4039 KiB  
Article
Predicting the Potential Suitable Area of the Invasive Ant Linepithema humile in China under Future Climatic Scenarios Based on Optimized MaxEnt
by Ming Li, Xiaoqing Xian, Haoxiang Zhao, Lin Xue, Baoxiong Chen, Hongkun Huang, Fanghao Wan and Wanxue Liu
Diversity 2022, 14(11), 921; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14110921 - 28 Oct 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1572
Abstract
Linepithema humile (Mayr, 1868) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is one of “100 of the world’s worst invasive alien species” listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). Although native to South America, this ant has spread worldwide via international trade. [...] Read more.
Linepithema humile (Mayr, 1868) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is one of “100 of the world’s worst invasive alien species” listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). Although native to South America, this ant has spread worldwide via international trade. Currently, L. humile has not been found in China, and if it invades China, it might pose a potential risk to the native invertebrates, vertebrates, plants, and human livelihoods. Based on 2432 global occurrence records and ten bioclimatic variables, the optimized MaxEnt model was used to predict the potential suitable areas of L. humile in China. We analyzed the important bioclimatic variables affecting the potential suitable areas, and determined the changes in potential suitable areas under future climatic scenarios. Our results indicated that the mean temperature of the coldest quarter (Bio11), precipitation of the coldest quarter (Bio19), mean temperature of the wettest quarter (Bio8), and precipitation of the warmest quarter (Bio18) were the most important bioclimatic variables. Under the current climatic scenarios, the potential suitable area of L. humile in China is 80.31 × 104 km2, which is mainly located in Fujian, Zhejiang, Hunan, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Hubei. Under future climate scenarios over coming decades, the potential suitable areas of L. humile showed an overall increase and a shift to higher latitudes, which indicated the invasion risk of L. humile in China will increase under climate change. Our findings provide the theoretical guidance for the early warning and monitoring of L. humile in China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Biogeography and Community Ecology of Ants II)
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11 pages, 512 KiB  
Article
Ant Diversity Declines with Increasing Elevation along the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania
by Caroline Kunene, Stefan H. Foord, Nikolaj Scharff, Thomas Pape, Jagoba Malumbres-Olarte and Thinandavha C. Munyai
Diversity 2022, 14(4), 260; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14040260 - 30 Mar 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2428
Abstract
Biodiversity patterns along elevational gradients are generally characterised by monotonic decreases or mid-elevational peaks in species richness, while elevational zones may be characterised by distinct assemblages, or higher zones may be subsets of lowland assemblages. Elevational gradients in diversity have been less studied [...] Read more.
Biodiversity patterns along elevational gradients are generally characterised by monotonic decreases or mid-elevational peaks in species richness, while elevational zones may be characterised by distinct assemblages, or higher zones may be subsets of lowland assemblages. Elevational gradients in diversity have been less studied in the Afrotropical region. This study documents ant diversity patterns in three forest types associated with the tropical mountains of Udzungwa; we hypothesise that: (1) ant diversity and activity will show a monotonic decrease from mid-elevation with increasing elevation and (2) that forests associated with different elevations will have a distinct ant assemblage. Pitfall traps were deployed at three targeted elevations (650–800, 800–1400, and 1400–1500 m a.s.l.). Ant species richness declined with increasing elevation from 650 m a.s.l. and formed three elevational assemblages with lower elevation forests having almost twice as many species as sub-montane forests and three times as many as that of the montane forests. In contrast, overall ant activity peaked at 800–1400 m a.s.l. The ant assemblages associated with the lower elevation forest were very distinct, while assemblages associated with the sub-montane and montane forests shared species. Our study reveals valuable and relevant information for biodiversity monitoring and conservation planning as the species associated with each forest type may be used as indicator species for assessing biodiversity responses to climate change and anthropogenic activities on these mountains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Biogeography and Community Ecology of Ants II)
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