Distribution characteristics of ant mounds and correlating factors across different succession stages of tropical forests in Xishuangbanna

doi:10.17520/biods.2016088

Abstract

Abstract:

In order to understand the distribution characteristics of ant mounds and influencing factors in tropical forests, we surveyed ant species, density, coverage and spatial distribution patterns of ant mounds in three successional stages of tropical forests in Xishuangbanna and analyzed correlations between these variables with soil physico-chemical properties. We found that (1) ant species richness, density and coverage of ant mounds in the three successional stages of tropical forests were ranked as: Musa acuminata community > Mallotus paniculatus community > Mellettia leptobotrya community; (2) successional forest type significantly impacted ant species richness and density of ant mounds but had no significant effects on ant mound coverage; (3) ant species richness and nest density was significantly and positively correlated with total soil organic carbon and soil hydrolysis nitrogen, but negatively correlated with soil bulk density and soil moisture content, besides, there were no significant correlations between soil physico-chemical properties and mound coverage. The spatial patterns of ant mounds indicated a random distribution. We conclude that the successional vegetation types and soil properties may exert a crucial effect on ant species richness and settlement density in secondary tropical forests of Xishuangbanna.

Key words: ant mounds, ant species, spatial distribution, soil properties, tropical forest succession

Shaojun Wang*, Hong Wang, Jihang Li. Distribution characteristics of ant mounds and correlating factors across different succession stages of tropical forests in Xishuangbanna[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2016, 24(8): 916-921.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2016088

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2016/V24/I8/916

Figures/Tables 6

References 19

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	自由度 df	均方 Mean square	F	P
蚂蚁种类总数 Ant species richness	2	7,769.42	7.36	0.01
巢穴密度 Nest density	2	6,921.14	5.53	0.02
巢穴盖度 Nest coverage	2	5,844.36	2.17	1.38

	自由度 df	均方 Mean square	F	P
蚂蚁种类总数 Ant species richness	2	7,769.42	7.36	0.01
巢穴密度 Nest density	2	6,921.14	5.53	0.02
巢穴盖度 Nest coverage	2	5,844.36	2.17	1.38

	土壤容重 Soil bulk density (g/cm³)	土壤温度 Soil temperature (℃)	土壤含水率 Soil moisture (%)	pH	总有机碳 Total organic carbon (g/kg)	全氮 Total nitrogen (g/kg)	水解氮 Hydrolysis nitrogen (mg/kg)
蚂蚁种类总数 Ant species richness (Num.)	-0.896^*	-0.665	-0.966^**	-0.527	0.916^**	0.811^*	0.875^*
巢穴密度 Nest density (ind./m²)	-0.878^*	-0.719	-0.952^**	-0.424	0.886^*	0.635	0.875^*
巢穴盖度 Nest coverage (%)	-0.457	-0.525	-0.568	-0.116	0.654	0.557	0.639

	土壤容重 Soil bulk density (g/cm³)	土壤温度 Soil temperature (℃)	土壤含水率 Soil moisture (%)	pH	总有机碳 Total organic carbon (g/kg)	全氮 Total nitrogen (g/kg)	水解氮 Hydrolysis nitrogen (mg/kg)
蚂蚁种类总数 Ant species richness (Num.)	-0.896^*	-0.665	-0.966^**	-0.527	0.916^**	0.811^*	0.875^*
巢穴密度 Nest density (ind./m²)	-0.878^*	-0.719	-0.952^**	-0.424	0.886^*	0.635	0.875^*
巢穴盖度 Nest coverage (%)	-0.457	-0.525	-0.568	-0.116	0.654	0.557	0.639

	方差 Variance	丛生指数 I	聚块指数 I_W	平均拥挤度 m^*	久野指数 C_A	负二项分布 K	泊松分布检验 Poisson test	负二项分布检验 Binomial test
白背桐群落 MP	0.242	-0.136	0.424	0.816	-0.536	-2.403	P<0.05	p>0.05
小果野芭蕉群落 MA	0.435	-0.252	0.572	0.925	-0.364	-2.615	P<0.05	p>0.05
思茅崖豆群落 ML	0.357	-0.087	0.358	0.637	-0.382	-1.836	P<0.05	p>0.05