The role of urban savannah fragments and their characteristics for the conservation of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in central Brazil

Aranda, Rodrigo and Tibcherani, Mariáh and Nacagava, Vivian Ayumi Fujizawa and de Carvalho, Suelen Sandim and de Souza, Paulo Robson (2022) The role of urban savannah fragments and their characteristics for the conservation of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in central Brazil. COMMUNITY ECOLOGY, 23 (1). pp. 115-127. ISSN 1585-8553 (print); 1588-2756 (online)

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Abstract

Ants are present in almost all terrestrial environments and are considered indicators of environmental quality. Areas such as the Brazilian savannah have been suffering from intense degradation in the last decades. This work aims to describe the composition of the ant community in Cerrado fragments in urban areas and test how the size and type of fragment affect this composition. The study was carried out in four Cerrado fragments located in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazilian Center-West: two state parks and two private natural heritage reserves. The collections were carried out using 675 pitfall traps for 72 h, and environmental variables were measured in each plot. Overall, 84 ant species were recorded, including five new species for the state. There was a significant difference in species richness and community composition between fragments, and environmental variables significantly affected community composition. Variation in habitat structure may have been due to vertical stratification of the vegetation, elements of understory formation, and the contribution of leaf lit- ter formation. Local, regional, and landscape aspects are significant for the maintenance of local ant biodiversity in cities. However, variation and quality of habitat within the fragments are also preponderant factors in this regard.

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