Submit to Diversity Review for Diversity Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Diversity, Biogeography and Community Ecology of Ants II

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Related Special Issue
Published Papers

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 20069

Share This Special Issue

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 2100 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

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Related Special Issue

Diversity, Biogeography and Community Ecology of Ants in Diversity (11 articles)

Published Papers (9 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

18 pages, 4824 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

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

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1763

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 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)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1921 KiB

Open AccessArticle

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 1544

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 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)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 14919 KiB

Open AccessArticle

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 1577

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 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)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 2461 KiB

Open AccessArticle

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 - 1 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2157

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 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)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 2058 KiB

Open AccessArticle

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 1336

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 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)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 3551 KiB

Open AccessArticle

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

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1996

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 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)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 2295 KiB

Open AccessArticle

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 2087

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 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)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 4039 KiB

Open AccessArticle

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 8 | Viewed by 2161

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. 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)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 512 KiB

Open AccessArticle

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 7 | Viewed by 3230

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 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)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Diversity, Biogeography and Community Ecology of Ants II

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (9 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI