Formigas de liteira de Floresta Primária da Estação Científica Ferreira Penna (ECFPn), durante a estação chuvosa.

Abstract

The family Formicidae occurs between latitudes 10 ° N and 80 °S, with greater diversity and abundance in tropical environments. It is a mega diverse group that occupies any forest ecosystem, as well as spaces under human action. Many species have great importance especially in ecology, relating to other animals, vegetation and soil. The present study aims to inventory the composition, diversity and abundance of litter ants in six areas, of primary forest, in the Scientific Station Ferreira Penna (ECFPn), Caxiuanã, collected in January 2004, using the methods of Winkler and pitfa 11 traps. The ants were collected in 100m transects, divided into 10 points at 10m intervals. At each point, a 1m2 area was demarcated and litter was sieved from which the ants were collected using Winkler extractors for 48 hours, and a pitfall trap was installed during the same period. The material was sorted, identified to the subfamily level and stored in the Laboratory of Ant Systematics and Ecology. A total of 20639 ants were collected, 2688 from pitfall traps and 17951 from Winkler traps. We found seven subfamilies (Cerapachyinae, Dolichoderinae, Ecitoninae, Formicinae, Myrmicinae, Pseudomyrmecinae and Ponerinae): all in pitfall and five in Winkler. The most abundant and frequent subfamilies were Myrmicinae, with 63.60% of pitfall (1709 specimens) and 87.35% of Winkler (15681 specimens), and Ponerinae with 8.93% of pitfall (240 specimens) and 7.97% of Winkler (1431 specimens). Ecitoninae accounted for 23.52% (632 specimens) of the pitfall. Cerapachyinae and Pseudomyrmecinae occurred only in pitfall. The highest diversity of subfamilies occurred in pitfall and the highest abundance in Winkler