Ant Community and Distribution Pattern of Daweishan National Nature Reserve and Adjacent Area in Yunnan Province

PurposeTo reveal the ant diversity law of Daweishan National Nature Reserve of Yunnan.

MethodAnt community and species distribution patterns of the nature reserve and adjacent area were surveyed using plot-sampling method.

ResultsTotally 104 ant species belonging to eight subfamilies and 49 genera were collected from nine sample plots, including three dominant species, 12 relatively common species, 30 relatively rare species and 59 rare species. In the ant community, Ectomomyrmex javanus Mayr had the widest vertical distribution range, meanwhile most ant species had a narrow range of ecological adaptation, choosing to forage on the ground and nest in soil. With the increase of altitude, the numbers of ant species generally decreased in each sample plot. Among the five types of habitats, the monsoon forest had the richest ant species (61 species) and the subalpine evergreen broad-leaf forest had the poorest ant species (13 species). The main diversity indexes of ant communities all expressed multi-domain effect phenomenon, the similarity between ant communities at different sample plots showed extremely dissimilar to moderately dissimilar level.

ConclusionThe ant community composition and species distribution are mainly influenced by climate, vegetation types and human disturbance. The habitat with lower altitude has higher ant species richness because there are rich plants and food resources. Ant species diversity reduced at human disturbed habitat. Most ant species has a strict selection to habitat and a narrow ecological adaptation range, it is related to body structure and ecological adaptation of the ants. In total, the ant resources of Daweishan National Nature Reserve and adjacent area is relatively plentiful, ant communities are significant divided in different habitat, and has various ecological function and protective value.