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Diversity
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Diversity, Biogeography and Community Ecology of Ants
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Diversity, Biogeography and Community Ecology of Ants

A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Diversity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2020) | Viewed by 44815

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Alan N. Andersen

E-Mail Website
Guest 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

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diversity is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Ants
  • Ant–plant interactions
  • Bioindicators
  • Biogeography
  • Community ecology
  • Ecosystem function
  • Functional groups

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

4 pages, 186 KiB  
Editorial
Diversity, Biogeography and Community Ecology of Ants: Introduction to the Special Issue
by Alan N. Andersen
Diversity 2021, 13(12), 625; https://doi.org/10.3390/d13120625 - 28 Nov 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2765
Abstract
Ants are a ubiquitous, highly diverse and ecologically dominant faunal group [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Biogeography and Community Ecology of Ants)

Research

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189 pages, 42845 KiB  
Article
High Diversity in Urban Areas: How Comprehensive Sampling Reveals High Ant Species Richness within One of the Most Urbanized Regions of the World
by François Brassard, Chi-Man Leong, Hoi-Hou Chan and Benoit Guénard
Diversity 2021, 13(8), 358; https://doi.org/10.3390/d13080358 - 04 Aug 2021
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 6112
Abstract
The continuous increase in urbanization has been perceived as a major threat for biodiversity, particularly within tropical regions. Urban areas, however, may still provide opportunities for conservation. In this study focused on Macao (China), one of the most densely populated regions on Earth, [...] Read more.
The continuous increase in urbanization has been perceived as a major threat for biodiversity, particularly within tropical regions. Urban areas, however, may still provide opportunities for conservation. In this study focused on Macao (China), one of the most densely populated regions on Earth, we used a comprehensive approach, targeting all the vertical strata inhabited by ants, to document the diversity of both native and exotic species, and to produce an updated checklist. We then compared these results with 112 studies on urban ants to illustrate the dual roles of cities in sustaining ant diversity and supporting the spread of exotic species. Our study provides the first assessment on the vertical distribution of urban ant communities, allowing the detection of 55 new records in Macao, for a total of 155 ant species (11.5% being exotic); one of the highest species counts reported for a city globally. Overall, our results contrast with the dominant paradigm that urban landscapes have limited conservation value but supports the hypothesis that cities act as gateways for exotic species. Ultimately, we argue for a more comprehensive understanding of ants within cities around the world to understand native and exotic patterns of diversity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Biogeography and Community Ecology of Ants)
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25 pages, 3002 KiB  
Article
Biogeography of Iberian Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
by Alberto Tinaut and Francisca Ruano
Diversity 2021, 13(2), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/d13020088 - 19 Feb 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3828
Abstract
Ants are highly diverse in the Iberian Peninsula (IP), both in species richness (299 cited species) and in number of endemic species (72). The Iberian ant fauna is one of the richest in the broader Mediterranean region, it is similar to the Balkan [...] Read more.
Ants are highly diverse in the Iberian Peninsula (IP), both in species richness (299 cited species) and in number of endemic species (72). The Iberian ant fauna is one of the richest in the broader Mediterranean region, it is similar to the Balkan Peninsula but lower than Greece or Israel, when species richness is controlled by the surface area. In this first general study on the biogeography of Iberian ants, we propose seven chorological categories for grouping thems. Moreover, we also propose eight biogeographic refugium areas, based on the criteria of “refugia-within-refugium” in the IP. We analysed species richness, occurrence and endemism in all these refugium areas, which we found to be significantly different as far as ant similarity was concerned. Finally, we collected published evidence of biological traits, molecular phylogenies, fossil deposits and geological processes to be able to infer the most probable centre of origin and dispersal routes followed for the most noteworthy ants in the IP. As a result, we have divided the Iberian myrmecofauna into four biogeographical groups: relict, Asian-IP disjunct, Baetic-Rifan and Alpine. To sum up, our results support biogeography as being a significant factor for determining the current structure of ant communities, especially in the very complex and heterogenous IP. Moreover, the taxonomic diversity and distribution patterns we describe in this study highlight the utility of Iberian ants for understanding the complex evolutionary history and biogeography of the Iberian Peninsula. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Biogeography and Community Ecology of Ants)
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15 pages, 1822 KiB  
Article
Digging Deeper into the Ecology of Subterranean Ants: Diversity and Niche Partitioning across Two Continents
by Mickal Houadria and Florian Menzel
Diversity 2021, 13(2), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/d13020053 - 29 Jan 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2314
Abstract
Soil fauna is generally understudied compared to above-ground arthropods, and ants are no exception. Here, we compared a primary and a secondary forest each on two continents using four different sampling methods. Winkler sampling, pitfalls, and four types of above- and below-ground baits [...] Read more.
Soil fauna is generally understudied compared to above-ground arthropods, and ants are no exception. Here, we compared a primary and a secondary forest each on two continents using four different sampling methods. Winkler sampling, pitfalls, and four types of above- and below-ground baits (dead, crushed insects; melezitose; living termites; living mealworms/grasshoppers) were applied on four plots (4 × 4 grid points) on each site. Although less diverse than Winkler samples and pitfalls, subterranean baits provided a remarkable ant community. Our baiting system provided a large dataset to systematically quantify strata and dietary specialisation in tropical rainforest ants. Compared to above-ground baits, 10–28% of the species at subterranean baits were overall more common (or unique to) below ground, indicating a fauna that was truly specialised to this stratum. Species turnover was particularly high in the primary forests, both concerning above-ground and subterranean baits and between grid points within a site. This suggests that secondary forests are more impoverished, especially concerning their subterranean fauna. Although subterranean ants rarely displayed specific preferences for a bait type, they were in general more specialised than above-ground ants; this was true for entire communities, but also for the same species if they foraged in both strata. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Biogeography and Community Ecology of Ants)
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14 pages, 4328 KiB  
Article
Red Imported Fire Ants Reduce Invertebrate Abundance, Richness, and Diversity in Gopher Tortoise Burrows
by Deborah M. Epperson, Craig R. Allen and Katharine F. E. Hogan
Diversity 2021, 13(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/d13010007 - 29 Dec 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3656
Abstract
Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) burrows support diverse commensal invertebrate communities that may be of special conservation interest. We investigated the impact of red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) on the invertebrate burrow community at 10 study sites in southern [...] Read more.
Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) burrows support diverse commensal invertebrate communities that may be of special conservation interest. We investigated the impact of red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) on the invertebrate burrow community at 10 study sites in southern Mississippi, sampling burrows (1998–2000) before and after bait treatments to reduce fire ant populations. We sampled invertebrates using an ant bait attractant for ants and burrow vacuums for the broader invertebrate community and calculated fire ant abundance, invertebrate abundance, species richness, and species diversity. Fire ant abundance in gopher tortoise burrows was reduced by >98% in treated sites. There was a positive treatment effect on invertebrate abundance, diversity, and species richness from burrow vacuum sampling which was not observed in ant sampling from burrow baits. Management of fire ants around burrows may benefit both threatened gopher tortoises by reducing potential fire ant predation on hatchlings, as well as the diverse burrow invertebrate community. Fire-ant management may also benefit other species utilizing tortoise burrows, such as the endangered Dusky Gopher Frog and Schaus swallowtail butterfly. This has implications for more effective biodiversity conservation via targeted control of the invasive fire ant at gopher tortoise burrows. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Biogeography and Community Ecology of Ants)
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28 pages, 10142 KiB  
Article
Diversity and Distribution of the Dominant Ant Genus Anonychomyrma (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Australian Wet Tropics
by Lily Leahy, Brett R. Scheffers, Stephen E. Williams and Alan N. Andersen
Diversity 2020, 12(12), 474; https://doi.org/10.3390/d12120474 - 14 Dec 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2993
Abstract
Anonychomyrma is a dolichoderine ant genus of cool-temperate Gondwanan origin with a current distribution that extends from the north of southern Australia into the Australasian tropics. Despite its abundance and ecological dominance, little is known of its species diversity and distribution throughout its [...] Read more.
Anonychomyrma is a dolichoderine ant genus of cool-temperate Gondwanan origin with a current distribution that extends from the north of southern Australia into the Australasian tropics. Despite its abundance and ecological dominance, little is known of its species diversity and distribution throughout its range. Here, we describe the diversity and distribution of Anonychomyrma in the Australian Wet Tropics bioregion, where only two of the many putative species are described. We hypothesise that the genus in tropical Australia retains a preference for cool wet rainforests reminiscent of the Gondwanan forests that once dominated Australia, but now only exist in upland habitats of the Wet Tropics. Our study was based on extensive recent surveys across five subregions and along elevation and vertical (arboreal) gradients. We integrated genetic (CO1) data with morphology to recognise 22 species among our samples, 20 of which appeared to be undescribed. As predicted, diversity and endemism were concentrated in uplands above 900 m a.s.l. Distribution modelling of the nine commonest species identified maximum temperature of the warmest month, rainfall seasonality, and rainfall of the wettest month as correlates of distributional patterns across subregions. Our study supported the notion that Anonychomyrma radiated from a southern temperate origin into the tropical zone, with a preference for areas of montane rainforest that were stably cool and wet over the late quaternary. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Biogeography and Community Ecology of Ants)
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17 pages, 543 KiB  
Article
Do Dominant Ants Affect Secondary Productivity, Behavior and Diversity in a Guild of Woodland Ants?
by Jean-Philippe Lessard, Katharine L. Stuble and Nathan J. Sanders
Diversity 2020, 12(12), 460; https://doi.org/10.3390/d12120460 - 02 Dec 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3184
Abstract
The degree to which competition by dominant species shapes ecological communities remains a largely unresolved debate. In ants, unimodal dominance–richness relationships are common and suggest that dominant species, when very abundant, competitively exclude non-dominant species. However, few studies have investigated the underlying mechanisms [...] Read more.
The degree to which competition by dominant species shapes ecological communities remains a largely unresolved debate. In ants, unimodal dominance–richness relationships are common and suggest that dominant species, when very abundant, competitively exclude non-dominant species. However, few studies have investigated the underlying mechanisms by which dominant ants might affect coexistence and the maintenance of species richness. In this study, we first examined the relationship between the richness of non-dominant ant species and the abundance of a dominant ant species, Formica subsericea, among forest ant assemblages in the eastern US. This relationship was hump-shaped or not significant depending on the inclusion or exclusion of an influential observation. Moreover, we found only limited evidence that F. subsericea negatively affects the productivity or behavior of non-dominant ant species. For example, at the colony-level, the size and productivity of colonies of non-dominant ant species were not different when they were in close proximity to dominant ant nests than when they were away and, in fact, was associated with increased productivity in one species. Additionally, the number of foraging workers of only one non-dominant ant species was lower at food sources near than far from dominant F. subsericea nests, while the number of foragers of other species was not negatively affected. However, foraging activity of the non-dominant ant species was greater at night when F. subsericea was inactive, suggesting a potential mechanism by which some non-dominant species avoid interactions with competitively superior species. Gaining a mechanistic understanding of how patterns of community structure arise requires linking processes from colonies to communities. Our study suggests the negative effects of dominant ant species on non-dominant species may be offset by mechanisms promoting coexistence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Biogeography and Community Ecology of Ants)
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16 pages, 1480 KiB  
Article
The Coupled Influence of Thermal Physiology and Biotic Interactions on the Distribution and Density of Ant Species along an Elevational Gradient
by Lacy D. Chick, Jean-Philippe Lessard, Robert R. Dunn and Nathan J. Sanders
Diversity 2020, 12(12), 456; https://doi.org/10.3390/d12120456 - 30 Nov 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3449
Abstract
A fundamental tenet of biogeography is that abiotic and biotic factors interact to shape the distributions of species and the organization of communities, with interactions being more important in benign environments, and environmental filtering more important in stressful environments. This pattern is often [...] Read more.
A fundamental tenet of biogeography is that abiotic and biotic factors interact to shape the distributions of species and the organization of communities, with interactions being more important in benign environments, and environmental filtering more important in stressful environments. This pattern is often inferred using large databases or phylogenetic signal, but physiological mechanisms underlying such patterns are rarely examined. We focused on 18 ant species at 29 sites along an extensive elevational gradient, coupling experimental data on critical thermal limits, null model analyses, and observational data of density and abundance to elucidate factors governing species’ elevational range limits. Thermal tolerance data showed that environmental conditions were likely to be more important in colder, more stressful environments, where physiology was the most important constraint on the distribution and density of ant species. Conversely, the evidence for species interactions was strongest in warmer, more benign conditions, as indicated by our observational data and null model analyses. Our results provide a strong test that biotic interactions drive the distributions and density of species in warm climates, but that environmental filtering predominates at colder, high-elevation sites. Such a pattern suggests that the responses of species to climate change are likely to be context-dependent and more specifically, geographically-dependent. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Biogeography and Community Ecology of Ants)
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12 pages, 1289 KiB  
Article
The Evolution and Biogeography of Wolbachia in Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
by Manuela O. Ramalho and Corrie S. Moreau
Diversity 2020, 12(11), 426; https://doi.org/10.3390/d12110426 - 12 Nov 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5385
Abstract
Wolbachia bacteria are widely distributed across invertebrate taxa, including ants, but several aspects of this host-associated interaction are still poorly explored, especially with regard to the ancestral state association, origin, and dispersion patterns of this bacterium. Therefore, in this study, we explored the [...] Read more.
Wolbachia bacteria are widely distributed across invertebrate taxa, including ants, but several aspects of this host-associated interaction are still poorly explored, especially with regard to the ancestral state association, origin, and dispersion patterns of this bacterium. Therefore, in this study, we explored the association of Wolbachia with Formicidae in an evolutionary context. Our data suggest that supergroup F is the ancestral character state for Wolbachia infection in ants, and there is only one transition to supergroup A, and once ants acquired infection with supergroup A, there have been no other strains introduced. Our data also reveal that the origin of Wolbachia in ants likely originated in Asia and spread to the Americas, and then back to Asia. Understanding the processes and mechanisms of dispersion of these bacteria in Formicidae is a crucial step to advance the knowledge of this symbiosis and their implications in an evolutionary context. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Biogeography and Community Ecology of Ants)
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14 pages, 14646 KiB  
Article
Megadiversity in the Ant Genus Melophorus: The M. rufoniger Heterick, Castalanelli and Shattuck Species Group in the Top End of Australia’s Northern Territory
by Alan N. Andersen, Benjamin D. Hoffmann and Stefanie K. Oberprieler
Diversity 2020, 12(10), 386; https://doi.org/10.3390/d12100386 - 08 Oct 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2478
Abstract
This study contributes to an understanding of megadiversity in the arid-adapted ant genus Melophorus by presenting an integrated genetic, morphological and distributional analysis of diversity within the M. rufoniger group in the 400,000 km2 Top End (northern region) of Australia’s Northern Territory. [...] Read more.
This study contributes to an understanding of megadiversity in the arid-adapted ant genus Melophorus by presenting an integrated genetic, morphological and distributional analysis of diversity within the M. rufoniger group in the 400,000 km2 Top End (northern region) of Australia’s Northern Territory. An earlier study of the Top End’s ant fauna lists eleven species from the M. rufoniger group, but a recent revision of Melophorus described the taxon as a single species occurring throughout most of the Australian mainland. CO1 sequences were obtained for 120 Top End specimens of the M. rufoniger group, along with a specimen from just outside the Top End. We recognize a total of 30 species among the sequenced specimens from the Top End, based on marked CO1 divergence (mean > 9%) in association with morphological differentiation and/or sympatric distribution. The sequenced specimen from just outside the Top End represents an additional species. Our unpublished CO1 data from other specimens from elsewhere in monsoonal Australia indicate that all but two of the 30 sequenced Top End species are endemic to the region, and that such diversity and endemism are similar in both the Kimberley region of far northern Western Australia and in North Queensland. The total number of species in the M. rufoniger group is potentially more than the 93 total species of Melophorus recognized in the recent revision. It has previously been estimated that Melophorus contains at least 1000 species, but our findings suggest that this is a conservative estimate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Biogeography and Community Ecology of Ants)
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Review

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19 pages, 2370 KiB  
Review
Eciton Army Ants—Umbrella Species for Conservation in Neotropical Forests
by Sílvia Pérez-Espona
Diversity 2021, 13(3), 136; https://doi.org/10.3390/d13030136 - 22 Mar 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5838
Abstract
Identification of priority areas for conservation is crucial for the maintenance and protection of biodiversity, particularly in tropical forests where biodiversity continues to be lost at alarming rates. Surveys and research on umbrella species can provide efficient and effective approaches to identify potential [...] Read more.
Identification of priority areas for conservation is crucial for the maintenance and protection of biodiversity, particularly in tropical forests where biodiversity continues to be lost at alarming rates. Surveys and research on umbrella species can provide efficient and effective approaches to identify potential areas for conservation at small geographical scales. Army ants of the genus Eciton are keystone species in neotropical forests due to their major role as top predators and due to the numerous vertebrate- and invertebrate associated species that depend upon their colonies for survival. These associates range from the iconic army ant-following birds to a wide range of arthropod groups, some of which have evolved intricate morphological, behavioural and/or chemical strategies to conceal their presence and integrate into the colony life. Furthermore, Eciton colonies require large forested areas that support a diverse leaf litter prey community and several field-based and genetic studies have demonstrated the negative consequences of forest fragmentation for the long-term maintenance of these colonies. Therefore, Eciton species will not only act as umbrella for their associates but also for many other species in neotropical forests, in particular for those that require a large extent of forest. This review summarises past and recent accounts of the main taxonomic groups found associated with Eciton colonies, as well research assessing the impact of forest fragmentation on this army ant, to encourage the adoption of Eciton army ants as umbrella species for the identification of priority areas for conservation and assessments of the effect of disturbance in neotropical forests. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Biogeography and Community Ecology of Ants)
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