Scale-Dependent Spatial Ecology of Paleotropical Leaf Litter Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
The grain for which an observer conducts a study is an important determinant of its outcome. Studies of ants have considered spatial grains spanning from single meters to entire forest ecosystems and found patterns related to nutrient availability, leaf litter depth, disturbance, and forest composit...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/4/494 |
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| author | Lillian Germeroth Theodore Sumnicht Robin Verble |
| author_facet | Lillian Germeroth Theodore Sumnicht Robin Verble |
| author_sort | Lillian Germeroth |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The grain for which an observer conducts a study is an important determinant of its outcome. Studies of ants have considered spatial grains spanning from single meters to entire forest ecosystems and found patterns related to nutrient availability, leaf litter depth, disturbance, and forest composition. Here, we examine a Bornean leaf litter ant community at small (1–4 m) and large (50–250 m) spatial scales and consider the differences in community structure using structured 1 m<sup>2</sup> quadrats sampled via leaf litter sifting and Berlese extraction. We found that small-scale patterns in ant abundance and richness did not spatially autocorrelate within a plot until >1.5 m. Leaf litter characteristics, forest stand characteristics and sampling season were homogenous among our sites, suggesting that macro-scale stand variables are not largely regulating the small spatial scale ant communities: These may be driven by microclimate, competition, niche space, nutrient available, microclimatic conditions, or other localized effects. Further experimental work is needed to elicit causal mechanisms. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:06:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-db38b06eca6d4135862c130bf2a6b887 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:06:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-db38b06eca6d4135862c130bf2a6b8872023-11-17T18:56:25ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182023-03-0115449410.3390/d15040494Scale-Dependent Spatial Ecology of Paleotropical Leaf Litter Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)Lillian Germeroth0Theodore Sumnicht1Robin Verble2Department of Biological Sciences, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO 65409, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO 65409, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO 65409, USAThe grain for which an observer conducts a study is an important determinant of its outcome. Studies of ants have considered spatial grains spanning from single meters to entire forest ecosystems and found patterns related to nutrient availability, leaf litter depth, disturbance, and forest composition. Here, we examine a Bornean leaf litter ant community at small (1–4 m) and large (50–250 m) spatial scales and consider the differences in community structure using structured 1 m<sup>2</sup> quadrats sampled via leaf litter sifting and Berlese extraction. We found that small-scale patterns in ant abundance and richness did not spatially autocorrelate within a plot until >1.5 m. Leaf litter characteristics, forest stand characteristics and sampling season were homogenous among our sites, suggesting that macro-scale stand variables are not largely regulating the small spatial scale ant communities: These may be driven by microclimate, competition, niche space, nutrient available, microclimatic conditions, or other localized effects. Further experimental work is needed to elicit causal mechanisms.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/4/494tropical conservationbiodiversitysemivariogramBorneoSabahMalaysia |
| spellingShingle | Lillian Germeroth Theodore Sumnicht Robin Verble Scale-Dependent Spatial Ecology of Paleotropical Leaf Litter Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Diversity tropical conservation biodiversity semivariogram Borneo Sabah Malaysia |
| title | Scale-Dependent Spatial Ecology of Paleotropical Leaf Litter Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) |
| title_full | Scale-Dependent Spatial Ecology of Paleotropical Leaf Litter Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) |
| title_fullStr | Scale-Dependent Spatial Ecology of Paleotropical Leaf Litter Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Scale-Dependent Spatial Ecology of Paleotropical Leaf Litter Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) |
| title_short | Scale-Dependent Spatial Ecology of Paleotropical Leaf Litter Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) |
| title_sort | scale dependent spatial ecology of paleotropical leaf litter ants hymenoptera formicidae |
| topic | tropical conservation biodiversity semivariogram Borneo Sabah Malaysia |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/4/494 |
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