Abstract

TORO A, Elmer  and  ORTEGA, Oscar Efraín. Composition and diversity of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in some protected areas of the “Valle de Aburra”. Rev. Colomb. Entomol. [online]. 2006, vol.32, n.2, pp.214-220. ISSN 0120-0488.

Ant communities were studied in three protected areas of the “Valle de Aburra” (Department of Antioquia-Colombia). 50 sampling stations were settled in each of these areas through two months (march 2000 and may 2001). Ants were collected using pitfall traps, mini-Winkler sacks and manual capture. Additionally, ten stations were settled in the botanical garden Joaquín Antonio Uribe of Medellín, this place that contributed with eight exclusive species. 96 morphospecies belonging to 33 genera, 18 tribes and 6 subfamilies were identified. Myrmicinae was the dominant subfamily. The non-parametric estimators of richness ICE (Incidence Coverage Estimator) and Jackknife1 produced estimates of 105 and 107 species respectively for the three areas together. Only one of these areas presented significant difference in the values of estimated richness. The cumulative species curves showed that the sampling methodology was effective to collect most of the species. The distribution of frequencies fit a logarithmic model, and relatively high values of evenness were found due to the presence of a great number of species with just one individual. The places share most of the mirmecofauna, consequently these have a similar functional organization. At the local scale, a decrease of the diversity was observed with the increment in the altitude. Each area contributed with exclusive species to the total diversity of Formicidae, which suggests that they should be conserved to maintain the local biodiversity.

Keywords : Biodiversity; Richness estimators; Exclusive species; Sampling; Functional Organization.

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