Abstract:

This paper deals with the ants' vertical distribution of Mt.Taibai.This associations between the ants population distribution and forest cover were researched by analyzing ant species composition in different forest covers.The ant vertical distribution characteristics and the resistance of lofty mountain to ant spreading were studied by comparing the similarity and fauna composition of small-zones.The results were as follows:1) The ant species composition was closely related to elevation, small climate and forest cover,the ant bio-diversities decreased with the increasing of elevation and the decreasing of temperature and forest covers.2) The similarities of ant species composition in small-zones of the same elevation were greater than those in different elevations.However,as the difference of elevation increased,the similarities among small-zones decreased.3) The ant fauna of Mt.Taibai located at the transitive area between Palaearctic region and Oriental region.The number of widely distributed species in this area was more than that is Palaearctic region and Oriental region,while that in Palaearctic region was more than that in Oriental region.4) The resistance of lofty Mt.Taibai to the spreading of ant to the south was smaller,and the ant spreading of species to north and high elevation areas was greater,so the population of Oriental species decreased rapidly with the elevation increasing.But many Palaearctic species could still live in the areas of the south slope of Mt.Taibai.

Key words: Ants, Vertical distribution, Mt.Taibai