Diversidade da Fauna de Formigas em liteiras, em Áreas de Floresta Primária Durante o Início da Estação Seca na Estação Científica Ferreira Penna (ECFPn), Caxiuanã, Melgaço, Pará

Abstract

The ant fauna of South America is considered the richest in the world, this diversity is the result of modifications of the different types of organisms in a heterogeneous environment. They are among the most important organisms in terrestrial ecosystems, reaching 10% of the total of tropical forests. The present work aims to contribute to the knowledge of the diversity, richness and abundance of the burrowing ant community. The survey of Ants was carried out in the Caxiuanã National Forest in July 2004. In each of the plots four 100-m transects were chosen, where 10 points were established, 10 m apart, to collect samples. Ten samples were obtained per transect, 40 per plot, and 240 in the six areas. The mini-Winkler extractor technique was used, exposed for 48 hours to facilitate the removal of the ants from the burlap. The ants were identified to the genus level and the data analyzed using Excel and Biodiversity software. Ten subfamilies, 42 genera were found at a frequency of 1320 out of 6773 specimens. The number of subfamilies ranged from 5 to 8, and the number of genera ranged from 1 to 24 per area. The highest frequency of individuals (270) and the highest diversity index for genera (1.4) according to Shannon, occurred in area V. The highest similarity was observed between plots IV and VI (85.7) and the lowest between plots I and III (77.5). The most abundant genera were Solenopsis (194) and Pheidole (191) and the least records (only 1) were found in Cerapachys, Ectatomma, Hylomyrma, Mycetarotes, Myrmicocrypta, Nonamyrmex, Tatuidris and Rogeria. The presence of more than 75% of the current ant subfamilies in one collection, using only one technique, shows evidence of high species richness of the myrmecofauna in the study area.