Seasonal analysis of taxonomic and functonal diversity of poneromorph ant assemblages in the Amazon forest

Abstract

The present study aimed at assessing the effects of climate seasonality on poneromorph ants in the Brazilian Amazon, by studying variatons in compositon, richness, and taxonomic and functonal diversity. The study was carried out in the Tapirapé-Aquiri Natonal Forest, southeastern Pará State. We collected poneromorph ants in three areas of natve forest with pitall traps and sardine baits on the ground and vegetaton, in two dry and rainy seasons. We collected 46 species of poneromorph ants, which belong to two subfamilies and eleven genera. The species compositon, richness and taxonomic diversity did not vary significantly between seasons. There was no significant difference in the frequency of species of functonal groups between dry and rainy seasons. There was no significant difference in the average richness and average diversity of functonal groups between the dry and rainy seasons. In our study we found no seasonal differences in compositon, taxonomic and functonal richness and diversity of poneromorph ants in the Amazon, which is useful for future studies that aim at using those ants as bioindicators. In additon, the identficaton of the species made in the present study has special relevance as it contributes to advance the knowledge of poneromorph ant diversity in the Amazon.