scholarly journals Undecomposed Twigs in the Leaf Litter as Nest-Building Resources for Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Areas of the Atlantic Forest in the Southeastern Region of Brazil

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tae Tanaami Fernandes ◽  
Rogério Rosa da Silva ◽  
Débora Rodrigues de Souza ◽  
Natália Araújo ◽  
Maria Santina de Castro Morini
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Tree Cover ◽  
Ant Colonies ◽  
Closed Canopy ◽  
Ombrophilous Forest ◽  
Ant Diversity ◽  
Southeastern Region ◽  
Nest Abundance

In tropical forests, the leaf-litter stratum exhibits one of the greatest abundances of ant species. This diversity is associated with the variety of available locations for nest building. Ant nests can be found in various microhabitats, including tree trunks and fallen twigs in different stages of decomposition. In this study, we aimed to investigate undecomposed twigs as nest-building resources in the leaf litter of dense ombrophilous forest areas in the southeastern region of Brazil. Demographic data concerning the ant colonies, the physical characteristics of the nests, and the population and structural of the forest were observed. Collections were performed manually over four months in closed canopy locations that did not have trails or flooded areas. A total of 294 nests were collected, and 34 ant species were recorded.Pheidole,Camponotus, andHypoponerawere the richest genera observed; these genera were also among the most populous and exhibited the greatest abundance of nests. We found no association between population size and nest diameter. Only tree cover influenced the nest abundance and species richness. Our data indicate that undecomposed twigs may be part of the life cycle of many species and are important for maintaining ant diversity in the leaf litter.

scholarly journals Ant Occupation of Twigs in the Leaf Litter of the Atlantic Forest: Influence of the Environment and External Twig Structure

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 194008291985294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tae Tanaami Fernandes ◽  
Wesley Dáttilo ◽  
Rogério R. Silva ◽  
Pedro Luna ◽  
Carla M. Oliveira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Relative Number ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Environmental Filters ◽  
Ant Colonies ◽  
Forest Sites ◽  
Ant Diversity

Twig cavities are microhabitats that may be used by different ant species for nesting and colony expansion. However, ants do not colonize all twigs available in the leaf litter, pointing to the existence of environmental or twig-related filters. In this study, we analyzed which environmental and twig attributes affected twig occupation by ants. We surveyed seven plots in six Atlantic forest sites in southeastern Brazil. To characterize the environmental filters, we quantified canopy cover and leaf litter moisture and depth. At the twig level, we measured twig length and diameter and the area and circumference of all holes in each twig. Ant colonies occupied 13.42% of the 4,805 twigs surveyed, and we recorded a total of 52 twig-nesting ant species. Brachymyrmex admotus was the most frequent species. Ant species richness increased with canopy cover and leaf litter moisture and with the relative number of occupied twigs. In addition, we found that ant species richness increased with length and diameter of the twigs, and that twigs with smaller holes were more frequently occupied by ants, regardless of the availability of larger diameter holes. Our work demonstrates that both environmental characteristics and twig morphology can structure occupation of twigs by ants. In addition, we demonstrated that certain species show a preference for certain twig types. We highlight the importance of twigs for maintaining ant diversity and for colony expansion of arboreal species and species inhabiting the leaf litter.

scholarly journals Characterization of Ant Communities (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Twigs in the Leaf Litter of the Atlantic Rainforest and Eucalyptus Trees in the Southeast Region of Brazil

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debora R. de Souza ◽  
Tae T. Fernandes ◽  
José R. de Oliveira Nascimento ◽  
Silvia S. Suguituru ◽  
M. Santina de C. Morini
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Physical Structure ◽  
Atlantic Rainforest ◽  
Ant Communities ◽  
Eucalyptus Plantation ◽  
Southeast Region ◽  
Nesting Sites ◽  
Ombrophilous Forest ◽  
Ant Diversity

Fragments of Atlantic Rainforest and extensive eucalyptus plantations are part of the landscape in the southeast region of Brazil. Many studies have been conducted on litter ant diversity in these forests, but there are few reports on the nesting sites. In the present study, we characterized the ant communities that nest in twigs in the leaf litter of dense ombrophilous forests and eucalyptus trees. The colony demographics associated with the physical structure of the nest were recorded. In the eucalyptus forests, the study examined both managed and unmanaged plantations. During five months, all undecomposed twigs between 10 and 30 cm in length containing ants found within a 16-m2area on the surface of the leaf litter were collected. A total of 307 nests and 44 species were recorded.Pheidole,Solenopsis,andCamponotuswere the most represented genera.Pheidolesp.13,Pheidolesp.43 andLinepithema neotropicumwere the most populous species. The dense ombrophilous forest and a eucalyptus plantation unmanaged contained the highest number of colonized twigs; these communities were the most similar and the most species rich. Our results indicate that the twigs are important resources as they help to maintain the litter diversity of dense rain forest and abandoned eucalypt crops.

scholarly journals Diversity of Medicinal Plants among Different Tree Canopies

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2640
Author(s):  
Muhammad Zubair ◽  
Akash Jamil ◽  
Syed Bilal Hussain ◽  
Ahsan Ul Haq ◽  
Ahmad Hussain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Coniferous Forest ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Tree Cover ◽  
Open Spaces ◽  
Floral Diversity ◽  
Tree Canopy Cover ◽  
Closed Canopy

The moist temperate forests in Northern Pakistan are home to a variety of flora and fauna that are pivotal in sustaining the livelihoods of the local communities. In these forests, distribution and richness of vegetation, especially that of medicinal plants, is rarely reported. In this study, we carried out a vegetation survey in District Balakot, located in Northeastern Pakistan, to characterize the diversity of medicinal plants under different canopies of coniferous forest. The experimental site was divided into three major categories (viz., closed canopy, open spaces, and partial tree cover). A sampling plot of 100 m2 was established on each site to measure species diversity, dominance, and evenness. To observe richness and abundance, the rarefaction and rank abundance curves were plotted. Results revealed that a total of 45 species representing 34 families were available in the study site. Medicinal plants were the most abundant (45%) followed by edible plants (26%). Tree canopy cover affected the overall growth of medicinal plants on the basis of abundance and richness. The site with partial canopy exhibited the highest diversity, dominance, and abundance compared to open spaces and closed canopy. These findings are instrumental in identifying the wealth of the medicinal floral diversity in the northeastern temperate forest of Balakot and the opportunity to sustain the livelihoods of local communities with the help of public/private partnership.

scholarly journals Flora vascular da Serra da Pedra Branca, Caldas, Minas Gerais e relações florísticas com áreas de altitude da Região Sudeste do Brasil

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 201-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Munike Gonçalves de Rezende ◽  
Ricardo Cunha Loyola Elias ◽  
Fátima Regina Gonçalves Salimena ◽  
Luiz Menini Neto
Keyword(s):  
New Records ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Montane Forest ◽  
Minas Gerais ◽  
The State ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Floristic Similarity ◽  
Floristic Survey ◽  
Ombrophilous Forest ◽  
Southeastern Region

Serra da Pedra Branca (SPB) is a mountain range located in the Southwestern portion of the state Minas Gerais, in the municipality of Caldas (21°58′-21°55′S, 46°24′-46°22′W). It is a striking feature in the landscape, between 1100 and 1780 m.s.m., in a region that is part of the Atlantic Forest Domain and is considered as a priority area for conservation of the flora in Minas Gerais state. The vegetation is composed by a mosaic of “campo de altitude” (which occupy the greatest extension in the area), Seasonal Semidecidual Montane Forest, Dense Ombrophilous High-Montane Forest and Mixed Ombrophilous Forest. The aims of this study was the elaboration of a floristic survey of SPB added to the specimens collected by Anders Fredrik Regnell in the nineteenth century in Caldas and to analyze its floristic similarity with altitude areas of the Southeastern Region of Brazil. There were recorded 502 vascular plant species, distributed in 274 genera and 100 families. The majority of recorded species present herbaceous habit, terricolous, saxicolous and/or rupicolous (representing around 58% of recorded species), predominantly occurring in the “campo de altitude” (ca. 46%). The richest families were Polypodiaceae (20 spp.) and Dryopteridaceae (10 spp.) among the ferns, and Orchidaceae (56 spp.), Asteraceae (27 spp.) and Fabaceae (26 spp.) among the angiosperms. Just one species of gymnosperm was recorded, Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze (Araucariaceae). Five new records were made for the Minas Gerais flora, 13 species are cited as threatened with extinction in the state and at least six are endemic to SPB. Amongst 127 species collected in XIX century in the region, only 29 collected again, while 375 new records were made for SPB. The analysis of floristic similarity performed between the flora of SPB and other altitude areas of Southeastern Region revealed isolation of SPB in relation to other areas, highlighting its floristic peculiarity, which can probably be explained by its location in a distinct hydrographic basin. The vegetation of the SPB must be considered as endangered since the presence of endemic species and/or threatened species, associated with local environmental conditions suffering accelerated rate of destruction, highlight the need for urgent actions to preserve local biodiversity.

scholarly journals A tale of scale: Plot but not neighbourhood tree diversity increases leaf litter ant diversity

2019 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 299-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl J. Skarbek ◽  
Merle Noack ◽  
Helge Bruelheide ◽  
Werner Härdtle ◽  
Goddert von Oheimb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Tree Diversity ◽  
Ant Diversity

scholarly journals Bryophytes diversity in Brazil

Rodriguésia ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 1063-1071 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise P. Costa ◽  
Denilson F. Peralta
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Endemic Species ◽  
Amazon Rainforest ◽  
Atlantic Rainforest ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
Ombrophilous Forest ◽  
Large Groups ◽  
Dense Ombrophilous Forest ◽  
Southeastern Region

Abstract The bryoflora of Brazil comprises 1,524 species, 117 families, and 413 genera (11 hornworts, 633 liverworts, and 880 mosses). The most diverse families of liverworts are: Lejeuneaceae (285 species), Lepidoziaceae (48), Frullaniaceae (37), Ricciaceae (36), Plagiochilaceae (27), Radulaceae and Metzgeriaceae (26 each), Lophocoleaceae (18), Aneuraceae (15), and Calypogeiaceae (13); while, for the mosses, we have: Sphagnaceae (83 species), Fissidentaceae (65) Pottiaceae (63), Dicranaceae (54), Bryaceae and Sematophyllaceae (53 each), Orthotrichaceae and Pilotrichaceae (51 each), Calymperaceae (48), and Hypnaceae (28). These large groups account for 71% of the Brazilian bryophyte species. Lejeuneaceae and Sphagnaceae are the families with highest number of endemic taxa (54 and 60 species). The Atlantic Rainforest presents the greatest number of species (1,337), followed by the Amazon Rainforest (570) and Cerrado (478). The highest number of endemic species (242) is associated with the Atlantic Rainforest, where the Dense Ombrophilous Forest concentrates 73% of the species with 62% endemism. The Southeastern region is the most diverse in number of species (1,228) and with more endemism (219). Most endangered species are restricted to the Atlantic Rainforest of southeastern Brazil, which is the diversity and endemism centre for mosses and liverworts. The information currently presented by the Brazilian List is close to the real bryophyte diversity found in the country.

Forest cover drives leaf litter ant diversity in primary rainforest remnants within human-modified tropical landscapes

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 1091-1107
Author(s):  
Diana A. Ahuatzin ◽  
Erick J. Corro ◽  
Armando Aguirre Jaimes ◽  
Jorge E. Valenzuela González ◽  
Rodrigo Machado Feitosa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Tropical Landscapes ◽  
Ant Diversity

Leaf litter ant diversity in Guyana

2006 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 491-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
John S. LaPolla ◽  
Ted Suman ◽  
Jeffrey Sosa-Calvo ◽  
Ted R. Schultz
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Ant Diversity

scholarly journals Leaf litter hides post-dispersed seeds from invasive alien removers in a sclerophyll forest in central Chile

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. e022
Author(s):  
Luis Cáceres-Polgrossi ◽  
Alvaro Promis ◽  
Alvaro G. Gutiérrez
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Tree Cover ◽  
Seed Density ◽  
Seed Removal ◽  
Quillaja Saponaria ◽  
Sclerophyll Forest ◽  
Set Up

Aim of the study: Seed removal may be a determining filter for regeneration. Factors such as leaf litter, tree cover and seed density affect seed removal. This aims to assess three aspects involving on post dispersal seed removal of four woody species (Lithraea caustica, Maytenus boaria, Quillaja saponaria and Retanilla ephedra) of a sclerophyll forest.Study area: Andean Mediterranean sclerophyll forest of Quillaja saponaria and Lithraea caustica located in the Río de Los Cipreses National Reserve, Chile.Materials and methods: Seven experimental plots were set up, in which seeds were offered in an experiment with variations in leaf litter, tree cover and seed density. Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMM) were used for the statistical analysis. Camera traps were installed to identify the seed removers.Main results: Q. saponaria seeds were more removed than the seeds of the other species (0.84, observed mean). Whereas that M. boaria and R. ephedra did not show significant differences on the removal of their seeds (0.77 and 0.67 respectively), both were more removed than L. caustica (0.59). The removal of M. boaria, Q. saponaria and R. ephedra seeds was lower in the presence of leaf litter. No factor influenced the removal of L. caustica seeds. Seed removers were identified as invasive alien species such as Rattus sp. and Oryctolagus cuniculus and native species such as Lycalopex culpaeus.Research highlights: Three woody species of this forest suffer severe seed removal by invasive alien fauna with major implications for the resilience of these forests. The coverage of leaf litter is key to hide away the seeds, increasing survival and could promote germination.Keywords: invasive alien fauna; Mediterranean forest; sclerophyll forest; seed removal factors.

scholarly journals Comparison between Winkler's extractor and pitfall traps to estimate leaf litter ants richness (Formicidae) at a rainforest site in southest Brazil

2011 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 873-880 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Orsolon-Souza ◽  
CEL. Esbérard ◽  
AJ. Mayhé-Nunes ◽  
AB. Vargas ◽  
S. Veiga-Ferreira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Sampling Design ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Species Accumulation Curves ◽  
Species Accumulation ◽  
Leaf Litter Ants ◽  
Accumulation Curves ◽  
Ant Diversity ◽  
Advance Knowledge

The aim of this study was to compare in the same site the efficiency of the two most used techniques for sampling ant diversity, Winkler's extractors and pitfalls. We studied communities of leaf litter ants from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, compared richness estimates for genera and species, and built species accumulation curves. These two methods resulted in a satisfactory sampling of richness; 21.3% of the genera and 47.6% of the species were collected exclusively with Winkler's extractors, whereas 6.4% of the genera and 9.5% of the species were collected exclusively with pitfalls. Winkler's extractor had proven to be the most efficient single sampling technique to estimate richness. However, pitfalls also recorded a significant portion of the total richness. Despite differences in efficiency, species accumulation curves for both techniques were similar, as well as the curve obtained with both methods combined. We noticed that Winkler's extractors were c. 74.0% more efficient than pitfalls in the Atlantic Forest. Therefore, sampling techniques must be used with a well-structured sampling design in order to advance knowledge on the ant fauna of Brazilian biomes, especially in the leaf litter, allowing more complete environmental analyses.

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