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Distribution of Ant Species Along an Altitudinal Transect in Continuous Rainforest in Subtropical Queensland, Australia

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Distribution of Ant Species Along an Altitudinal Transect in Continuous Rainforest in Subtropical Queensland, Australia Distribution of ant species along an altitudinal transect in continuous rainforest in subtropical Queensland, Australia Author Burwell, Christopher, Nakamura, Aki Published 2011 Journal Title Memoirs of the Queensland Museum Copyright Statement © 2011 Queensland Museum. The attached file is reproduced here in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Please refer to the journal's website for access to the definitive, published version. Downloaded from http://hdl.handle.net/10072/43226 Link to published version http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/About+Us/Publications/Memoirs+of+the+Queensland+Museum Griffith Research Online https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au Distribution of ant species along an altitudinal transect in continuous rainforest in subtropical Queensland, Australia Chris J. BURWELL Akihiro NAKAMURA Biodiversity Program, Queensland Museum, PO Box 3300, South Brisbane Qld 4101, Australia. Environmental Futures Centre and Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Nathan Qld 4111, Australia. Citation: Burwell, C.J. & Nakamura, A. 2011 12 20: Distribution of ant species along an altitudinal transect in continuous rainforest in subtropical Queensland, Australia. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum — Nature 55(2): 391-411. Brisbane. ISSN 0079-8835. ABSTRACT We present the distributions of ant species along an altitudinal gradient from 300 to 1100 m above sea level (m a.s.l.) within continuous rainforest in subtropical Queensland, Australia. Ants were collected along a single transect from four replicate plots at each of five zones of elevation (300, 500, 700, 900 and 1100 m a.s.l.) using a large array of methods targeting a wide range of microhabitats. These samples yielded a total of 170 ant species, represented by workers or ergatoid queens. A systematic ant sampling protocol, incorporating leaf litter extracts, spraying tree trunks with insecticide and hand collecting, was systematically conducted across all replicate plots in three seasons (spring, summer and autumn) enabling rigorous analysis of altitudinal patterns of species richness and assemblage structure. Species richness progressively declined with increasing altitude, with significant differences in the number of ant species between all zones except 300 and 500 m. Ant assemblages were significantly different among altitudinal zones with a progressive change in structure with increasing altitude between 300 and 900 m. Ant assemblages at 1100 m were markedly different to those at 900 m largely due to a dramatic decline in species richness rather than altitudinally restricted species. Short-term climate warming, therefore, may be of minor direct conservation concern for ants at this location. However, given the clear altitudinal signal of ant assemblages demonstrated here, ants have great potential as indicators of climate change-induced altitudinal range shifts. ant species, Lamington National Park, IBISCA. Altitudinal stratification of assemblage stru– Many species of invertebrates are restricted to cture is a generally accepted phenomenon certain altitudinal ranges (Pyrcz & Wojtusiak for many invertebrate groups including moths 2002; Chatzaki et al. 2005; Botes et al. 2006), (e.g. Brehm & Fiedler 2003; Brehm et al. 2007), and some are only found at the upper limits butterflies (Fleishman et al. 2000; Wilson et of altitudinal gradients (Wilson et al. 2007a). al. 2007b), beetles (Monteith & Davies 1991; These restricted altitudinal ranges have strong Escobar et al. 2005), flies (Wilson et al. 2007a), implications for assessing the impacts of climate spiders (Monteith & Davies 1991; Chatzaki et al. change as upward shifts in distribution or 2005) and ants (Fisher 1999; Sanders et al. 2007). complete disappearance of certain species at Memoirs of the Queensland Museum | Nature 2011 55(2) www.qm.qld.gov.au 391 Burwell & Nakamura higher altitudes are predicted to occur with rainforest at Lamington National Park, using increasing temperatures (Hodkinson 2005; available data from all collecting methods used Sanders et al. 2007). during the IBISCA project. This provides the most comprehensive baseline information on the In order to document differential responses altitudinal distribution of ant species within the of invertebrates to climatic changes, we need to region, where almost no ecological studies of ants establish baseline data describing the current have been previously conducted (but see Majer et altitudinal distributions of a wide range of al., 2001). Secondly, we assess the effectiveness invertebrate groups that may exhibit different of our systematic protocol in sampling the ant ecological, evolutionary and physiological traits fauna along the gradient. Thirdly, we analyse (Lomolino 2001; Calosi et al. 2008; Merrill et altitudinal patterns of ant species richness and al. 2008). The IBISCA Queensland project was assemblage structure to examine the utility of designed to document the current distributions ants as bio–indicators of future climate change. of a range of invertebrate taxa along an altitudinal gradient within continuous rainforest in south- MATERIALS AND METHODS east Queensland. Specifically, the project aimed to identify taxa or suites of taxa that could Study site and design be incorporated into long-term monitoring programs to detect the impacts of climate change. The study site is a single altitudinal transect Here, we report on the altitudinal distribution of in the Green Mountains Section of Lamington ants along the IBISCA transect. National Park in the south-east corner of Queensland, Australia. The transect lies in Ant assemblages are known to be strongly continuous rainforest within the West Canungra stratified by altitude within a variety of vegetation Creek catchment. Climatic conditions vary along and climatic zones, in both the northern and the transect, but at the Green Mountains National southern hemispheres (e.g. Fisher 1996; Samson Park headquarters (approximately 940 m.a.s.l.) et al. 1997; Bruhl et al. 1999; Sanders et al. 2003; annual rainfall averages 1827 mm with most Lessard et al. 2007). However, altitudinal studies falling in summer. Average air temperatures range of ants have largely focussed on the ground from a 4°C minimum in winter to 27°C maximum fauna, using pitfall trapping, litter extraction in summer. (see Kitching et al. 2011 for a detailed or a combination of both (e.g. Fisher 1999; description of the transect). Robertson 2002; Botes et al. 2006; Sanders et al. 2007). In contrast, we conducted specialist Four experimental plots (A-D) were estab– ant sampling which incorporated three methods lished at each of five zones of elevation; 300, (leaf litter extracts, spraying tree trunks with 500, 700, 900 and 1100 m.a.s.l. (20 plots in total, insecticide and hand collecting). This suite of see Kitching et al. 2011 for precise coordinates methods targeted both ground and arboreal ants, and elevations). Within each zone, plots were as well as specialist nesters within and under separated by at least 400 m. Forest structure rotting logs and rocks. Data from this systematic and species composition varied along the transect protocol were supplemented from ants collected (see Laidlaw et al. 2011). The low elevation plots using a large number of other methods employed (300 m a.s.l.) are located within Araucaria complex during the IBISCA project. notophyll vine forest , the mid elevation plots (500-900 m a.s.l.) within complex notophyll The aims of the present study are broadly vine forest and the 1100 m plots within simple threefold. First, we establish an inventory of microphyll fern forest dominated by Antarctic ant species along the altitudinal gradient of Beech, Nothofagus moorei. All plots had basaltic 392 Memoirs of the Queensland Museum | Nature 2011 55(2) Distribution of ant species along an altitudinal transect in subtropical Qld soils derived from Cainozoic rocks. Each plot of litter and soil were avoided. All litter and consisted of a central 20 m × 20 m quadrat and loose surface soil within the four squares was a surrounding circular survey area of 50 m collected by hand, sieved with a litter sifter radius measured from a metal stake located with a hexagonal mesh of chicken wire of in the centre of the quadrat (see Kitching et approximately 15 mm in diameter. Litter extracts al. 2011 for a detailed description of the were transferred to a cloth bag and processed in experimental design). Tullgren funnels within 24 hours of collection. Funnels were usually operated for 24 hours with SYSTEMATIC SAMPLING a single 60 watt incandescent bulb, but wetter extracts were processed for up to 36 hours. Systematic sampling was designed to provide a robust measure of the overall ant fauna within Bark sprays a plot and was intended as a standard protocol Two bark spray samples were collected per that could be used for future monitoring of the plot per season from opposite sides of the plot. impacts of climate change. Three systematic For each sample, five trees located outside the sampling methods targeted different elements central quadrat were selected. Large trees (> 30 of the ant fauna. Tullgren funnels (litter extracts) cm diameter at breast height (dbh)) were targeted, sampled the leaf litter fauna, spraying tree especially those encrusted with vines, epiphytes trunks with synthetic pyrethroid insecticide (bark sprays) sampled the arboreal fauna and or moss. Their trunks were thoroughly sprayed timed bouts of hand collecting during the day using hand-held cans of pyrethroid insecticide (day
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