Leaf‐cutting ant abundance and distribution under different agricultural practices in grassland biome. (28th February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ribero, Martín N.; Pinto, Carolina; Bellocq, María I.; Filloy, Julieta
• Is Part Of: Agricultural and forest entomology. Volume 23:Number 3(2021)
• Page Start: 342
• Page End: 352
• Publication Date: 2021-02-28
• Subjects: Acromyrmex -- agricultural‐pests -- cattle‐pastures -- forestry -- Neotropics -- soybean; Insect pests -- Control -- Periodicals; Agricultural pests -- Control -- Periodicals; Forest insects -- Control -- Periodicals; 632.7
• DOI: 10.1111/afe.12436
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-9555

Abstract

Abstract: Leaf‐cutting ants (LCA) frequently show positive associations with human disturbance in forest biome, explained by habitat opening and increase of pioneer vegetation. However, little is known about LCA response in grassland biome. Agriculture and commercial forestry typically introduce closed habitats and displace pioneer vegetation when occurring in grasslands. The aim of this study was to assess the response of LCA to different land use types developed in a grassland biome. Semi‐natural grassland remnants, soybean crops, cattle pastures and young and mature eucalypt plantations were sampled in Entre Ríos, Argentina. LCA nest abundance and occurrence of workers was obtained by hand sampling and baited pitfall traps. LCA nest abundance significantly decreased in most land use types when compared with the grassland sites. All habitat types were characterized by the presence of different LCA species, which showed different associations with temperature, vegetation and soil structure. Our results suggest that LCA response to human disturbance depends on the biome where it occurs; contrary to what was observed in forests, the LCA assemblage was negatively associated to human disturbance in grasslands. The response of the whole assemblage masked different responses of LCA species, possibly indicating differences in their ecological niche. Abstract : Leaf‐cutting ants have been described to respond positively in abundance to human disturbance in forest biome, but little is known about their response to grasslands replacement. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of different land use types in a grassland biome on LCA abundance and species distribution at a local scale. LCA nest abundance decreased in most land use types in comparison with grassland habitat. LCA species showed different associations with the environmental variables studied and land use types.