Abstract:

In order to reveal the pattern of ant diversity in southeastern Tibet, the ant communities from east slope of Mount Demola to Zayu Valley along altitudes of 1 590-4 776 m were surveyed by sample plots and search-collecting methods. In total, 90 species belonging to 5 subfamilies and 30 genera of Formicidae family were recognized. The communities from the 14 plots at different altitudes had 4-12 species (average 10.3), individual densities of 4.4-938 head·m^-2 (average 241.1 head·m^-2), diversity indexes of 0.674 9-2.121 3 (average 1.195 8), evenness indexes of 0.299 5-0.729 0 (average 0.548 1), and dominant indexes of 0.162 7-0.692 4 (average 0.417 6). Unlike the diversity pattern of ant communities in northwestern Yunnan Province, the restricting force of temperature on ant communities was reduced on the east slope of Mount Demola and Zayu, while the influence of vegetation types, vegetation nature, and habitat condition was enhanced. Similarity coefficients between the ant communities at different altitudes were 0.000 0-0.692 3 (average 0.199 4), which represented the extremely dissimilar to median similar level. The similarity level between ant communities increased with increasing altitude, but decreased with increasing distance.

Key words: Hymenoptera, Formicidae, species diversity, community similarity, Mt. Demola, Zayu Valley