Spatial and temporal variation of the Formicidae assemblage in different forest types of the Chaco Seco ecoregion, Argentina

Gualterio Barrientos; Antonela Dettler; Emilia Martínez; Florencia Vazquez; Agustina Ansa; Marina Santadino; Mauricio Ewens; Elena Craig; María Riquelme Virgala

doi:10.25260/EA.24.34.1.0.2283

Authors

Gualterio Barrientos Department of Technology, National University of Luján (UNLu). Buenos Aires, Argentina. Research Group on Bioecology of Arthropods of Agricultural Importance (GIBAIA). Department of Technology, UNLu
Antonela Dettler Department of Technology, National University of Luján (UNLu). Buenos Aires, Argentina. Research Group on Bioecology of Arthropods of Agricultural Importance (GIBAIA). Department of Technology, UNLu
Emilia Martínez Department of Technology, National University of Luján (UNLu). Buenos Aires, Argentina. Research Group on Bioecology of Arthropods of Agricultural Importance (GIBAIA). Department of Technology, UNLu. Institute of Ecology and Sustainable development (UNLu-CONICET). Buenos Aires, Argentina
Florencia Vazquez Department of Technology, National University of Luján (UNLu). Buenos Aires, Argentina. Research Group on Bioecology of Arthropods of Agricultural Importance (GIBAIA). Department of Technology, UNLu. Biological Fight Research Insectarium (IMYZA-INTA). Buenos Aires, Argentina
Agustina Ansa Department of Technology, National University of Luján (UNLu). Buenos Aires, Argentina. Research Group on Bioecology of Arthropods of Agricultural Importance (GIBAIA). Department of Technology, UNLu. Institute of Ecology and Sustainable development (UNLu-CONICET). Buenos Aires, Argentina. Faculty of Agronomy of the University of Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires, Argentina
Marina Santadino Department of Technology, National University of Luján (UNLu). Buenos Aires, Argentina. Research Group on Bioecology of Arthropods of Agricultural Importance (GIBAIA). Department of Technology, UNLu. Institute of Ecology and Sustainable development (UNLu-CONICET). Buenos Aires, Argentina
Mauricio Ewens Fernández Experimental Station, Catholic University of Santiago del Estero. Santiago del Estero, Argentina
Elena Craig Department of Technology, National University of Luján (UNLu). Buenos Aires, Argentina. Research Group on Bioecology of Arthropods of Agricultural Importance (GIBAIA). Institute of Ecology and Sustainable development (UNLu-CONICET). Buenos Aires, Argentina
María Riquelme Virgala Department of Technology, National University of Luján (UNLu). Buenos Aires, Argentina. Research Group on Bioecology of Arthropods of Agricultural Importance (GIBAIA). Department of Technology, UNLu. Institute of Ecology and Sustainable development (UNLu-CONICET). Buenos Aires, Argentina. Faculty of Agronomy of the University of Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires, Argentina

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25260/EA.24.34.1.0.2283

Keywords:

ant community, Neltuma alba, Eucalyptus tereticornis, diversity, bioindicators

Abstract

Ants have been widely used as bioindicators of natural and disturbed environments. In Argentine Chaco Seco, ants represent an important part of the total biodiversity and fulfil various functions in forest ecosystems. With the aim of evaluating β diversity and identifying indicator ants, surveys were carried out in three types of implanted forests: Neltuma alba (mesquite), Eucalyptus tereticornis (eucalyptus) and mixed forests without intervention for 50 years, mainly composed of Ceiba speciosa and Phoenix canariensis, located at the Fernández Experimental Station of the Catholic University of Santiago del Estero. The samplings were carried out in spring, summer and autumn, between 2019 and 2022, using pitfall traps that remained active for 24 h. The abundance and composition of Formicidae at each site and season were evaluated using the Jaccard similarity index and generalized linear mixed models. A total of 7366 individuals grouped into 28 species belonging to 6 Formicidae subfamilies were identified. Some species were present at all sites and seasons, with Solenopsis saevissima, Camponotus mus and Pheidole bergii being the most abundant in the mesquite, eucalyptus and mixed stands, respectively. In addition, three exclusive species of N. alba, two of E. tereticornis and one of the mixed stand were identified. Furthermore, it was observed that the myrmecological composition varied seasonally, mainly during autumn. These results demonstrate that due to the characteristics of each site, representative groups of ants can be found for each that could be used as indicators of each type of environment and that the temporal variation of the communities is favored by the diversification of the habitats, which offer different resources during each season of the year, increasing the turnover rate.

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