scholarly journals Associations of Two Ecologically Significant Social Insect Taxa in the Litter of an Amazonian Rainforest: Is There a Relationship between Ant and Termite Species Richness?

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy L. Mertl ◽  
James F. A. Traniello ◽  
Kari Ryder Wilkie ◽  
Reginaldo Constantino
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Ant Predation ◽  
Mechanical Defense ◽  
Amazonian Rainforest ◽  
Ecological Dominance ◽  
Ant Diversity ◽  
Neotropical Ants

In spite of the ecological dominance of Neotropical ants and termites, little is understood about how their interactions influence their species richness and distribution. We surveyed ground-dwelling termite and ant species in a primary rainforest in Ecuador and analyzed ecological correlates of diversity. Termite richness was positively correlated with ant richness and abundance of twig-nesting ants. We found no evidence of competition for twigs between termites and ants. No ecological factors were correlated with termite diversity although elevation and twig and log abundance influenced ant diversity. When ant richness was compared to the richness of termites employing different predator defenses, a positive correlation was found with soldierless termites, but not genera employing chemical or mechanical defense. Our results suggest that multiple ecological factors influence ant and termite diversity, and that ant predation on termites may have a greater effect than competition between ant and termites for nest sites and food sources.

scholarly journals Ant–plant interactions evolved through increasing interdependence

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (48) ◽  
pp. 12253-12258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew P. Nelsen ◽  
Richard H. Ree ◽  
Corrie S. Moreau
Keyword(s):  
Biotic Interactions ◽  
Extrafloral Nectaries ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Intermediate Step ◽  
Plant Interactions ◽  
Dietary Transition ◽  
Ecological Dominance

Ant–plant interactions are diverse and abundant and include classic models in the study of mutualism and other biotic interactions. By estimating a time-scaled phylogeny of more than 1,700 ant species and a time-scaled phylogeny of more than 10,000 plant genera, we infer when and how interactions between ants and plants evolved and assess their macroevolutionary consequences. We estimate that ant–plant interactions originated in the Mesozoic, when predatory, ground-inhabiting ants first began foraging arboreally. This served as an evolutionary precursor to the use of plant-derived food sources, a dietary transition that likely preceded the evolution of extrafloral nectaries and elaiosomes. Transitions to a strict, plant-derived diet occurred in the Cenozoic, and optimal models of shifts between strict predation and herbivory include omnivory as an intermediate step. Arboreal nesting largely evolved from arboreally foraging lineages relying on a partially or entirely plant-based diet, and was initiated in the Mesozoic, preceding the evolution of domatia. Previous work has suggested enhanced diversification in plants with specialized ant-associated traits, but it appears that for ants, living and feeding on plants does not affect ant diversification. Together, the evidence suggests that ants and plants increasingly relied on one another and incrementally evolved more intricate associations with different macroevolutionary consequences as angiosperms increased their ecological dominance.

Metagenomic profiling of gut microbiota in urban and rural rats: A comparative study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafig GURBANOV ◽  
Uygar KABAOĞLU ◽  
Tuba YAĞCI
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Rattus Rattus ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Laboratory Rats ◽  
Food Variety ◽  
Wild Rats

Abstract Mammals have a symbiotic relationship with various microorganisms called microbiota throughout their lives. These microorganisms are known to affect the host's physiology, health, and even mental balance. In the harbor of the densest and most diverse microorganisms in mammals, the curved structure of the intestines and their rich nutrient content are effective. The development of the gut microbiota is regulated by a complex interaction between host and environmental factors, including diet and lifestyle. Herein, it is aimed to elucidate the changes in the gut microbiota of rats living in urban and rural habitats. All taxonomic changes in the gut microbiota of wild rats belonging to Rattus rattus species caught from urban and rural areas of Western Anatolian (Bilecik province) were examined comparatively by 16S rRNA next-generation sequencing technique. Laboratory rats were used as a control group for comparison. Thus, 2000 different bacterial species were identified in gut microbiota. According to the Shannon and Simpsons values ​​calculated, laboratory rats showed the highest species diversity. When the similarities of microbiota profiles were compared with the principal coordinate analysis (PcoA), bacterial populations showed variability among different habitats. The comparison of species richness between the groups with the species rarefaction technique revealed higher species richness in all wild rats, especially in the rural habitat, compared to laboratory rats. Food sources were determined as the most important factor contributing to species richness and diversity. While the increased food variety boosted species richness, species diversity was increased due to the diminished food variety.

scholarly journals First standardized inventory of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the natural grasslands of Paraná: New records for Southern Brazil

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 ◽  
pp. 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weslly Franco ◽  
Rodrigo Machado Feitosa
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
New Records ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Conservation Units ◽  
Natural Grasslands ◽  
Taxonomic Novelties ◽  
First Time ◽  
Ant Diversity

Despite the large number of studies investigating ant diversity in Brazilian biomes, no ant-related studies have been carried out in Campos Gerais, a grassland physiognomy in Paraná state. The present study is the first inventory of the ant fauna in one of the few conservation units protecting the Campos Gerais landscape, the Guartelá State Park (PEG). Sixty samples were collected from different habitats within PEG using pitfall traps. Qualitative samples of leaf litter were collected from forest fragments and submitted to Winkler extractors. In addition, manual qualitative sampling was carried out in the various physiognomies within the PEG. A total of 163 species was collected and sorted into 43 genera and nine subfamilies. Five genera and 28 species were recorded for the first time in the state of Paraná. Out of these, 17 species were also recorded for the first time in the Southern Region of Brazil and two were recorded for the first time to the country. The significant species richness in the PEG and the high number of new records is a strong sign of this ecosystem’s potential to reveal taxonomic novelties. These results suggest that PEG, and the Campos Gerais as a whole, should be the target of greater conservation efforts to preserve native remnants.

scholarly journals EFFECTS OF REGIONAL VS. ECOLOGICAL FACTORS ON PLANT SPECIES RICHNESS: AN INTERCONTINENTAL ANALYSIS

Ecology ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 88 (6) ◽  
pp. 1440-1453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Qian ◽  
Peter S. White ◽  
Jong-Suk Song
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Plant Species Richness

Elevational Correlates of Speciation and Intraspecific Geographic Variation in Plumage in Andean Forest Birds

The Auk ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 102 (3) ◽  
pp. 556-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary R. Graves
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Geographic Variation ◽  
Intraspecific Variation ◽  
Geographic Distribution ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Geographic Range ◽  
Forest Birds ◽  
Elevational Distribution ◽  
The Mean ◽  
High Elevations

Abstract Intraspecific variation in plumage was used to test the null hypotheses that geographic variation in 280 species of elevationally restricted Andean forest birds is independent of elevation and is not a function of patchy geographic distribution. Both null hypotheses were rejected. At most taxonomic levels, geographic variation in plumage was correlated positively with both the mean of its elevational distribution and the size of its geographic range. Vertical amplitude of elevational distribution was not a significant predictor of geographic variation in plumage in most taxa. Independent of these elevational correlates, patchily distributed species showed significantly more geographic variation than continuously distributed species. These results show that geographic variation and presumably ongoing speciation phenomena are greater at higher elevations. The decreased species richness at high elevations may be attributable to a higher rate of extinction from catastrophic disturbance as well as to ecological factors that limit sympatry in newly formed species.

scholarly journals Mammals of the Saracá-Taquera National Forest, northwestern Pará, Brazil

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Analice Calaça ◽  
Michel Barros Faria ◽  
Diego Afonso Silva ◽  
Áquila Oliveira Fialho ◽  
Fabiano Rodrigues de Melo
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Geographic Distribution ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
National Forest ◽  
Large Mammals ◽  
Mammalian Fauna ◽  
The World ◽  
Amazonian Rainforest ◽  
Mammal Faunas ◽  
First Time

Abstract: The Amazonian rainforest harbors one of the most diverse mammal faunas found anywhere in the world, although this fauna is still poorly known. Inventories are essential for the understanding of the biology and ecology of species, and provide basic data for conservation. Over 15 years of sampling in the Saracá-Taquera National Forest, we recorded 72 species of small (nonvolant), medium, and large mammals belonging to 30 families in 10 orders. These taxa included 29 species endemic to the Amazon biome, and 14 classified as threatened with extinction. Overall, the mammalian species richness recorded in the present study was equal to or greater than that recorded in other Amazonian studies, reflecting high levels of diversity on a biogeographic scale. This reinforces the importance of this national forest for the maintenance of the region's mammalian fauna. Some of the species were recorded in the region for the first time, thus extending their known geographic distribution.

scholarly journals Influence of nitrogen fertilization on abundance and diversity of plants and animals in temperate and boreal forests

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P. Sullivan ◽  
Druscilla S. Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilization ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Forest Growth ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Soil Animals ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Understory Herbs

Aerial and land-based applications of nitrogen-based fertilizers to enhance forest growth makes nutrients potentially available to all trees, plants, and wildlife in a given ecosystem and, therefore, may have direct and indirect effects on wildlife and biodiversity. A scientific review of these potential effects was conducted with 106 published studies covering vascular and nonvascular plants, amphibians, birds, mammals, terrestrial invertebrates, and soil animals associated with fertilization in temperate and boreal forests, primarily in North America and Scandinavia. In terms of direct effects, amphibians and domestic mammals appear to be the most sensitive to urea used in fertilization programs. The avoidance behaviour and (or) mortality of amphibians in laboratory studies was species dependent. Ruminant animals, including wild ungulates, rapidly convert urea to ammonia and are susceptible to toxicity following ingestion of large amounts of urea. Feeding on urea pellets by small mammals or gallinaceous birds appears to be minimal as granules are unpalatable. In terms of indirect effects, the majority of responses of understory herbs to nitrogen fertilization showed an increase in abundance. Some shrubs in repeatedly fertilized stands eventually increased in abundance in long-term studies, whereas dwarf shrubs and abundance of bryophytes (mosses and terrestrial lichens) declined. In general, species richness and diversity of understory herbs and shrubs declined, or were unaffected, in fertilized stands. Response in abundance and species richness-diversity of vascular plants to a single application of nitrogen showed either an increase or no change. Repeated applications (2–5 and >5) usually resulted in declines in these responses. Relative abundance of mule deer (Odocoileus Rafinesque spp.), moose (Alces alces L.), and hares (Lepus L. spp.), and forage quantity and quality were usually increased by fertilization. Small mammal species generally showed increases or no change in abundance; decreases may be related to fertilizer-induced changes in food sources. Forest fertilization may provide winter feeding habitat for coniferous foliage-gleaning insectivorous birds in some cases. Six species of forest grouse showed no response to fertilizer treatments. Responses of soil animals to nitrogen fertilization appeared to be species- and dose-specific and are ameliorated by surrounding micro- and macro-habitat characteristics.

scholarly journals More individuals but fewer species: testing the ‘more individuals hypothesis’ in a diverse tropical fauna

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 490-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terrence P. McGlynn ◽  
Michael D. Weiser ◽  
Robert R. Dunn
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Primary Productivity ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Tropical Rainforest ◽  
Net Primary Productivity ◽  
Resource Abundance ◽  
Monotonic Increase ◽  
Ant Diversity ◽  
Unimodal Relationship

A positive relationship between species richness and productivity is often observed in nature, but the causes remain contentious. One mechanism, the ‘more individuals hypothesis’ (MIH), predicts richness increases monotonically with density, as a function of resource flux. To test the MIH, we manipulated resource abundance in a community of tropical rainforest litter ants and measured richness and density responses. A unimodal relationship between richness and density most closely fitted the control and disturbance (resource removal) treatments in contrast to expectations of the MIH. Resource addition resulted in a monotonic increase in richness relative to density, a shift from the pattern in the control. In the disturbance treatment, richness was greater than in the control, opposite to expectations of the MIH. While large-scale correlations between ant diversity and net primary productivity or temperature are reconcilable with the MIH, key elements of the hypothesis are not supported.

scholarly journals Evolutionary time drives global tetrapod diversity

2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1872) ◽  
pp. 20172378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Marin ◽  
Giovanni Rapacciuolo ◽  
Gabriel C. Costa ◽  
Catherine H. Graham ◽  
Thomas M. Brooks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Evolutionary Rate ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Evolutionary Time ◽  
Secondary Importance ◽  
Persistence Time ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Competing Hypotheses ◽  
Richness Patterns ◽  
Broad Spatial Scale

Global variation in species richness is widely recognized, but the explanation for what drives it continues to be debated. Previous efforts have focused on a subset of potential drivers, including evolutionary rate, evolutionary time (maximum clade age of species restricted to a region), dispersal (migration from one region to another), ecological factors and climatic stability. However, no study has evaluated these competing hypotheses simultaneously at a broad spatial scale. Here, we examine their relative contribution in determining the richness of the most comprehensive dataset of tetrapods to our knowledge (84% of the described species), distinguishing between the direct influences of evolutionary rate, evolutionary time and dispersal, and the indirect influences of ecological factors and climatic stability through their effect on direct factors. We found that evolutionary time exerted a primary influence on species richness, with evolutionary rate being of secondary importance. By contrast, dispersal did not significantly affect richness patterns. Ecological and climatic stability factors influenced species richness indirectly by modifying evolutionary time (i.e. persistence time) and rate. Overall, our findings suggest that global heterogeneity in tetrapod richness is explained primarily by the length of time species have had to diversify.

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