Ants and People
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In Indonesian Grasslands with Special Focus on the Tropical Fire Ant, Solenopsis Geminata
The Community Ecology of Ants (Formicidae) in Indonesian Grasslands with Special Focus on the Tropical Fire Ant, Solenopsis geminata. By Rebecca L. Sandidge A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management in the Graduate Division of the University of California, Berkeley Committee in charge: Professor Neil D. Tsutsui, Chair Professor Brian Fisher Professor Rosemary Gillespie Professor Ellen Simms Fall 2018 The Community Ecology of Ants (Formicidae) in Indonesian Grasslands with Special Focus on the Tropical Fire Ant, Solenopsis geminata. © 2018 By Rebecca L. Sandidge 1 Abstract The Community Ecology of Ants (Formicidae) in Indonesian Grasslands with Special Focus on the Tropical Fire Ant, Solenopsis geminata. by Rebecca L. Sandidge Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Science Policy and Management, Berkeley Professor Neil Tsutsui, Chair Invasive species and habitat destruction are considered to be the leading causes of biodiversity decline, signaling declining ecosystem health on a global scale. Ants (Formicidae) include some on the most widespread and impactful invasive species capable of establishing in high numbers in new habitats. The tropical grasslands of Indonesia are home to several invasive species of ants. Invasive ants are transported in shipped goods, causing many species to be of global concern. My dissertation explores ant communities in the grasslands of southeastern Indonesia. Communities are described for the first time with a special focus on the Tropical Fire Ant, Solenopsis geminata, which consumes grass seeds and can have negative ecological impacts in invaded areas. The first chapter describes grassland ant communities in both disturbed and undisturbed grasslands. -
Ants in French Polynesia and the Pacific: Species Distributions and Conservation Concerns
Ants in French Polynesia and the Pacific: species distributions and conservation concerns Paul Krushelnycky Dept of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii Hervé Jourdan Centre de Biologie et de Gestion des Populations, INRA/IRD, Nouméa, New Caledonia The importance of ants • In most ecosystems, form a substantial portion of a communities’ biomass (1/3 of animal biomass and ¾ of insect biomass in Amazon rainforest) Photos © Alex Wild The importance of ants • In most ecosystems, form a substantial portion of a communities’ biomass (1/3 of animal biomass and ¾ of insect biomass in Amazon rainforest) • Involved in many important ecosystem processes: predator/prey relationships herbivory seed dispersal soil turning mutualisms Photos © Alex Wild The importance of ants • Important in shaping evolution of biotic communities and ecosystems Photos © Alex Wild Ants in the Pacific • Pacific archipelagoes the most remote in the world • Implications for understanding ant biogeography (patterns of dispersal, species/area relationships, community assembly) • Evolution of faunas with depauperate ant communities • Consequent effects of ant introductions Hypoponera zwaluwenburgi Ants in the Amblyopone zwaluwenburgi Pacific – current picture Ponera bableti Indigenous ants in the Pacific? Approx. 30 - 37 species have been labeled “wide-ranging Pacific natives”: Adelomyrmex hirsutus Ponera incerta Anochetus graeffei Ponera loi Camponotus chloroticus Ponera swezeyi Camponotus navigator Ponera tenuis Camponotus rufifrons -
Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Bermuda
212 Florida Entomologist 87(2) June 2004 ANTS (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) OF BERMUDA JAMES K. WETTERER1 AND ANDREA L. WETTERER2 1Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University, 5353 Parkside Drive, Jupiter, FL 33458 2Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027 ABSTRACT For more than 50 years, two exotic ant species, Linepithema humile (Mayr) and Pheidole megacephala (F.), have been battling for ecological supremacy in Bermuda. Here we summa- rize known ant records from Bermuda, provide an update on the conflict between the domi- nant ant species, and evaluate the possible impact of the dominant species on the other ants in Bermuda. We examined ant specimens from Bermuda representing 20 species: Brachy- myrmex heeri Forel, B. obscurior Forel, Camponotus pennsylvanicus (De Geer), Cardio- condyla emeryi Forel, C. obscurior Wheeler, Crematogaster sp., Hypoponera opaciceps (Mayr), H. punctatissima (Roger), L. humile, Monomorium monomorium Bolton, Odontomachus rug- inodis Smith, Paratrechina longicornis (Latreille), P. vividula (Nylander), P. megacephala, Plagiolepis alluaudi Forel, Solenopsis (Diplorhoptrum) sp., Tetramorium caldarium Roger, T. simillimum (Smith), Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger), and an undetermined Dacetini. Records for all but three (H. punctatissima, P. vividula, W. auropunctata) include specimens from 1987 or later. We found no specimens to confirm records of several other ant species, in- cluding Monomorium pharaonis (L.) and Tetramorium caespitum (L.). Currently, L. humile dominates most of Bermuda, while P. megacephala appear to be at its lowest population lev- els recorded. Though inconspicuous, B. obscurior is common and coexists with both dominant species. Paratrechina longicornis has conspicuous populations in two urban areas. Three other ant species are well established, but inconspicuous due to small size (B. -
James K. Wetterer
James K. Wetterer Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University 5353 Parkside Drive, Jupiter, FL 33458 Phone: (561) 799-8648; FAX: (561) 799-8602; e-mail: [email protected] EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, Seattle, WA, 9/83 - 8/88 Ph.D., Zoology: Ecology and Evolution; Advisor: Gordon H. Orians. MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, East Lansing, MI, 9/81 - 9/83 M.S., Zoology: Ecology; Advisors: Earl E. Werner and Donald J. Hall. CORNELL UNIVERSITY, Ithaca, NY, 9/76 - 5/79 A.B., Biology: Ecology and Systematics. UNIVERSITÉ DE PARIS III, France, 1/78 - 5/78 Semester abroad: courses in theater, literature, and history of art. WORK EXPERIENCE FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY, Wilkes Honors College 8/04 - present: Professor 7/98 - 7/04: Associate Professor Teaching: Biodiversity, Principles of Ecology, Behavioral Ecology, Human Ecology, Environmental Studies, Tropical Ecology, Field Biology, Life Science, and Scientific Writing 9/03 - 1/04 & 5/04 - 8/04: Fulbright Scholar; Ants of Trinidad and Tobago COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, Department of Earth and Environmental Science 7/96 - 6/98: Assistant Professor Teaching: Community Ecology, Behavioral Ecology, and Tropical Ecology WHEATON COLLEGE, Department of Biology 8/94 - 6/96: Visiting Assistant Professor Teaching: General Ecology and Introductory Biology HARVARD UNIVERSITY, Museum of Comparative Zoology 8/91- 6/94: Post-doctoral Fellow; Behavior, ecology, and evolution of fungus-growing ants Advisors: Edward O. Wilson, Naomi Pierce, and Richard Lewontin 9/95 - 1/96: Teaching: Ethology PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 7/89 - 7/91: Research Associate; Ecology and evolution of leaf-cutting ants Advisor: Stephen Hubbell 1/91 - 5/91: Teaching: Tropical Ecology, Introduction to the Scientific Method VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY, Department of Psychology 9/88 - 7/89: Post-doctoral Fellow; Visual psychophysics of fish and horseshoe crabs Advisor: Maureen K. -
2006 Imported Fire Ant Conference Proceedings
Index to Submitted ~bstracts/~rticles* *NOTE: NS denotes Not Submitted Session: Chemical Control H. Dorough, F. Graham, V. Bertagnolli, A. Wiggins, W. Datcher: Fire ants at Talladega: bringing NASCAR fans back down to earth 19 J. Altom: Esteem ant bait now labeled for pasture and hay 20 C. Barr, A. Calixto: Mixing bait and fertilizer: is it ok, yet? T. Birthisel: Report on 2005 ANDE development activity-Tast-E-Bait and Fertibait for use with insect growth regulators and other active ingredients for imported fire ant control NS D. Vander Hooven: TAST-E-Bait, a new improved bait carrier T. Rashid, P. Parkman, J. Oliver, K. Vail: Mortality response of red, black and hybrid imported fire ants to insecticide treated soil in laboratory bioassays R. Hickman, D. Calibeo-Hayes, B. Everson: Metaflumizone: a new insecticide for imported fire ant bait from BASF L. Greenberg, M. Rust, J. Klotz: Metaflumizone trials against RIFA in California using corn chips as an estimate of ant abundance 38 D. Pollet: Fire ant management at poultry houses P. Nester, W. Thompson, B. Drees: Discussion of 2005 survey of Texas aerial applicators Session: Behavior & Chemical Ecology T. Fink, L. Gui, D. Streett, J. Seiner: Preliminary observations of phorid fly (Pseudacteon cumatus) and black imported fire ant interactions with high-speed videography Y. Lin, H. Chang, C. Lin, H. Ho, W. Wu: Differential cuticular chemical profiles between monogyne and polygyne red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) colonies S. Ochleng: Imported fire ant repellency and mortality following exposure to Ecotroll EC R. Renthal, D. Velasquez, D. Gonzalea, A. -
Ants (Hymenoptera: Fonnicidae) of Samoa!
Ants (Hymenoptera: Fonnicidae) of Samoa! James K Wetterer 2 and Donald L. Vargo 3 Abstract: The ants of Samoa have been well studied compared with those of other Pacific island groups. Using Wilson and Taylor's (1967) specimen records and taxonomic analyses and Wilson and Hunt's (1967) list of 61 ant species with reliable records from Samoa as a starting point, we added published, unpublished, and new records ofants collected in Samoa and updated taxonomy. We increased the list of ants from Samoa to 68 species. Of these 68 ant species, 12 species are known only from Samoa or from Samoa and one neighboring island group, 30 species appear to be broader-ranged Pacific natives, and 26 appear to be exotic to the Pacific region. The seven-species increase in the Samoan ant list resulted from the split of Pacific Tetramorium guineense into the exotic T. bicarinatum and the native T. insolens, new records of four exotic species (Cardiocondyla obscurior, Hypoponera opaciceps, Solenopsis geminata, and Tetramorium lanuginosum), and new records of two species of uncertain status (Tetramorium cf. grassii, tentatively considered a native Pacific species, and Monomorium sp., tentatively considered an endemic Samoan form). SAMOA IS AN ISLAND CHAIN in western island groups, prompting Wilson and Taylor Polynesia with nine inhabited islands and (1967 :4) to feel "confident that a nearly numerous smaller, uninhabited islands. The complete faunal list could be made for the western four inhabited islands, Savai'i, Apo Samoan Islands." Samoa is of particular in lima, Manono, and 'Upolu, are part of the terest because it is one of the easternmost independent country of Samoa (formerly Pacific island groups with a substantial en Western Samoa). -
James K. Wetterer
James K. Wetterer Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University 5353 Parkside Drive, Jupiter, FL 33458 Phone: (561) 799-8648; FAX: (561) 799-8602; e-mail: [email protected] EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, Seattle, WA, 9/83 - 8/88 Ph.D., Zoology: Ecology and Evolution; Advisor: Gordon H. Orians. MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, East Lansing, MI, 9/81 - 9/83 M.S., Zoology: Ecology; Advisors: Earl E. Werner and Donald J. Hall. CORNELL UNIVERSITY, Ithaca, NY, 9/76 - 5/79 A.B., Biology: Ecology and Systematics. UNIVERSITÉ DE PARIS III, France, 1/78 - 5/78 Semester abroad: courses in theater, literature, and history of art. WORK EXPERIENCE FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY, Wilkes Honors College 8/04 - present: Professor 7/98 - 7/04: Associate Professor Teaching: Principles of Ecology, Behavioral Ecology, Human Ecology, Environmental Studies, Tropical Ecology, Biodiversity, Life Science, and Scientific Writing 9/03 - 1/04 & 5/04 - 8/04: Fulbright Scholar; Ants of Trinidad and Tobago COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, Department of Earth and Environmental Science 7/96 - 6/98: Assistant Professor Teaching: Community Ecology, Behavioral Ecology, and Tropical Ecology WHEATON COLLEGE, Department of Biology 8/94 - 6/96: Visiting Assistant Professor Teaching: General Ecology and Introductory Biology HARVARD UNIVERSITY, Museum of Comparative Zoology 8/91- 6/94: Post-doctoral Fellow; Behavior, ecology, and evolution of fungus-growing ants Advisors: Edward O. Wilson, Naomi Pierce, and Richard Lewontin 9/95 - 1/96: Teaching: Ethology PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 7/89 - 7/91: Research Associate; Ecology and evolution of leaf-cutting ants Advisor: Stephen Hubbell 1/91 - 5/91: Teaching: Tropical Ecology, Introduction to the Scientific Method VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY, Department of Psychology 9/88 - 7/89: Post-doctoral Fellow; Visual psychophysics of fish and horseshoe crabs Advisor: Maureen K. -
Ant Community Structure on a Small Pacific Island: Only One Native Species Living with the Invaders
Ant community structure on a small Pacific island: only one native species living with the invaders Xim Cerda´ • Elena Angulo • Ste´phane Caut • Franck Courchamp Abstract In most studies about ant communities, ecologically dominant species, and a dominant species species are grouped into competitive hierarchies where in one habitat could be non-dominant and less abun- top dominants drive the majority of other species away dant in another. From interactions at baits, we built a from resources. Nevertheless, in some ecosystems high competitive hierarchy where the top dominant species ground temperatures may disrupt this hierarchical was the native Ph. oceanica. Daily foraging activity organization. Other changes in community structure rhythms of the different species mostly overlapped. are caused by the arrival of invasive ant species, which The relationship between bait occupation and ground rapidly disassemble local communities. We studied the temperature followed a negative linear pattern at all effects of competition and temperature on ant commu- sites and for most species, except for the relatively nity organization on Surprise Island (New Caledonia). thermophilous Monomorium floricola. Indices of Four different habitats were distinguished: a central co-occurrence in pitfall traps indicated that species plain, a sea shore Argusia shrubland, a dense Scaveola co-occurred randomly with respect to one another. shrub, and an arboreal Pisonia strata. Eight ant species Conversely, species appeared to be segregated when were identified from pitfall traps (seven introduced we examined co-occurrence at baits at the sites where and only one native species, Pheidole oceanica). Ph. oceanica was abundant. Oceanic islands are very Ant assemblages in each habitat had a different susceptible to alien species, but on Surprise Island it seems that the sole native species dominates in some habitats when confronted by invasive species. -
The Coexistence
Myrmecologische Nachrichten 8 181 - 191 Wien, September 2006 Tetramorium pacificum MAYR, 1870, T. scabrum MAYR, 1879 sp.rev., T. manobo (CALILUNG, 2000) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) – three good species Birgit C. SCHLICK-STEINER, Florian M. STEINER & Herbert ZETTEL Abstract By combining morphological and molecular analyses we scrutinize the taxonomic status of selected ant species of the Tetramorium bicarinatum (NYLANDER, 1846) species group. We confirm Apomyrmex manobo CALILUNG, 2000 as a member of the genus Tetramorium, and evaluate whether T. manobo and T. scabrum MAYR, 1879, which currently is a junior synonym of T. pacificum MAYR, 1870, are specifically distinct from T. pacificum. Morphometry shows clear differences between workers of the three ants. Sequence comparison of 700 bp of the mitochondrial COI gene confirms that they constitute separate species, embedded in the T. bicarinatum species group. Thus, we confirm T. manobo as a valid species and revive T. scabrum sp.rev. from synonymy. Pronounced morphological variation between T. scabrum populations indicates the possible existence of more than one species. We discuss our findings in terms of plesiomorphy and / or convergent evolution of worker morphology. Tetramorium manobo appears to be a Philippine endemic restricted to the subregion "Greater Mindanao", where it inhabits forest habitats. In contrast, on the Philippines T. pacificum is found only in disturbed habitats. Additionally, we review the ants of the T. bicarinatum group currently known from the Philippines and add the first record of T. obtusidens VIEHMEYER, 1916. Key words: Tetramorium bicarinatum group, Tetramorium pacificum, Tetramorium scabrum, Tetramorium manobo, Tetramorium obtusidens, Oriental region, Indo-Australian region, morphometry, mitochondrial DNA, taxonomy. -
Floral Volatiles Play a Key Role in Specialized Ant Pollination Clara De Vega
FLORAL VOLATILES PLAY A KEY ROLE IN SPECIALIZED ANT POLLINATION CLARA DE VEGA1*, CARLOS M. HERRERA1, AND STEFAN DÖTTERL2,3 1 Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Avenida de Américo Vespucio s/n, 41092 Sevilla, Spain 2 University of Bayreuth, Department of Plant Systematics, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany 3 Present address: University of Salzburg, Organismic Biology, Hellbrunnerstr. 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria Running title —Floral scent and ant pollination * For correspondence. E-mail [email protected] Tel: +34 954466700 Fax: + 34 954621125 1 ABSTRACT Chemical signals emitted by plants are crucial to understanding the ecology and evolution of plant-animal interactions. Scent is an important component of floral phenotype and represents a decisive communication channel between plants and floral visitors. Floral 5 volatiles promote attraction of mutualistic pollinators and, in some cases, serve to prevent flower visitation by antagonists such as ants. Despite ant visits to flowers have been suggested to be detrimental to plant fitness, in recent years there has been a growing recognition of the positive role of ants in pollination. Nevertheless, the question of whether floral volatiles mediate mutualisms between ants and ant-pollinated plants still remains largely unexplored. 10 Here we review the documented cases of ant pollination and investigate the chemical composition of the floral scent in the ant-pollinated plant Cytinus hypocistis. By using chemical-electrophysiological analyses and field behavioural assays, we examine the importance of olfactory cues for ants, identify compounds that stimulate antennal responses, and evaluate whether these compounds elicit behavioural responses. Our findings reveal that 15 floral scent plays a crucial role in this mutualistic ant-flower interaction, and that only ant species that provide pollination services and not others occurring in the habitat are efficiently attracted by floral volatiles. -
Of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean): Identification and Distribution
DOI: 10.18195/issn.0312-3162.25(1).2008.045-085 Records of the Western Australian Museum 25: 45-85 (2008). Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean): identification and distribution Volker w. Framenau1,2 andMelissa 1. Thomas2,3,* 1 Department of Terrestrial Zoology, Western Australian Museum, Locked Bag 49, Welshpool DC, Western Australia 6986, Australia. E-mail: [email protected] 2 School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia. 3 Parks Australia North, PO Box 867, Christmas Island, Indian Ocean 6798, Australia. Abstract - The composition of the Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) ant fauna is reviewed, leading to the recognition of 52 species in 24 genera and 7 subfamilies. This account amalgamates previously published records and recent extensive surveys of Christmas Island's ant fauna. Eight species represent new records for Christmas Island: Technomyrmex vitiensis, Camponotus sp. (novaehollandiae group), Cardiocondyla kagutsuchi, Monomorium orientale, M. cf. subcoecum, Tetramorium cf. simillimum, T. smithi and T. walshi. Although some of these new species records represent recent taxonomic advances rather than new introductions, we consider four species to be true new records to Christmas Island. These include Camponotus sp. (novaehollandiae group), M. orientale, T. smithi and T. walshi. None of the 52 species reported here are considered endemic. In general, the Christmas Island ant fauna is composed of species that are regarded as worldwide tramps, or that are widespread in the Indo-Australian region. However, Christmas Island may fall within the native range of some of these species. We provide a key to the ant species of Christmas Island (based on the worker caste), supplemented by comprehensive distribution maps of these ants on Christmas Island and a short synopsis of each species in relation to their ecology and world-wide distribution. -
The Ant Genus Tetramorium Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Malagasy Region—Introduction, Definition of Species Groups, and Revision of the T
Zootaxa 3039: 1–72 (2011) ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ Monograph ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2011 · Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) ZOOTAXA 3039 The ant genus Tetramorium Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Malagasy region—introduction, definition of species groups, and revision of the T. bicarinatum, T. obesum, T. sericeiventre and T. tosii species groups FRANCISCO HITA GARCIA1 & BRIAN L. FISHER2 Entomology, California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San, Francisco, CA 94118, U.S.A. 1 [email protected] (corresponding author) 2 [email protected] Magnolia Press Auckland, New Zealand Accepted by J. Longino: 7 Jun. 2011; published: 22 Sep. 2011 FRANCISCO HITA GARCIA & BRIAN L. FISHER The ant genus Tetramorium Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Malagasy region—introduction, definition of species groups, and revision of the T. bicarinatum, T. obesum, T. sericeiventre and T. tosii species groups (Zootaxa 3039) 72 pp.; 30 cm. 22 Sep. 2011 ISBN 978-1-86977-767-8 (paperback) ISBN 978-1-86977-768-5 (Online edition) FIRST PUBLISHED IN 2011 BY Magnolia Press P.O. Box 41-383 Auckland 1346 New Zealand e-mail: [email protected] http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ © 2011 Magnolia Press All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, transmitted or disseminated, in any form, or by any means, without prior written permission from the publisher, to whom all requests to reproduce copyright material should be directed in writing. This authorization does not extend to any other kind of copying, by any means, in any form, and for any purpose other than private research use.