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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2023, Vol. 59 ›› Issue (6): 102-111.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.LYKX20220305

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Species Diversity of Ants in the Middle of Tianshan Mountain, Xinjiang

Lin Yang1,Zhongping Xiong1,Xia Liu1,*(),Yishun Qian1,Rui Yang1,Xiu Han1,Hua Fang2,Zhenghui Xu1   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Forest Disaster Warning and Control in Yunnan Province College of Biodiversity Conservation, Southwest Forestry University Kunming 650224
    2. Library of Southwest Forestry University Kunming 650224
  • Received:2022-05-07 Online:2023-06-25 Published:2023-08-08
  • Contact: Xia Liu E-mail:liuxia.1128@163.com

Abstract:

Objective: This study aims to reveal the pattern of ant species diversity in the middle of Tianshan Mountain, and provide a basis for ecological restoration and species diversity protection in Tianshan Mountain area. Method: The species diversity of ants in the middle of Tianshan Mountain was surveyed by plot sampling method. The sampling adequacy was tested by R4.1.1 software, and the α diversity indexes and Jaccard community similarity coefficients were calculated. Pearson correlation between ant diversity indexes and habitat factors was analyzed by SPSS 24 software. Result: A total of 11 767 ant individuals were collected in the middle of Tianshan Mountain area, and they belonged to 2 subfamilies, 15 genera, and 27 species. The species richness, diversity index and evenness index of ant communities on the northern slope were higher than those on the southern slope. With the increase of altitude, the α diversity indexes of various plots on the southern and northern slopes showed a multi-domain effect or a middle-domain effect phenomenon. The similarity (0.222 2) between ant communities on the southern and the northern slope was at an extremely dissimilar level, and the similarity level between ant communities at various plots on both the southern and northern slopes was generally lower. The similarity (0.000 0–0.416 7) between ant communities from various vegetation was at an extremely dissimilar to moderately dissimilar level. Correlation analysis found that species richness and diversity index had a significant negative correlation with altitude, and a significant positive correlation with tree canopy density. Conclusion: The α diversity of ant community in the middle of Tianshan Mountain is mainly determined by altitude and air temperature, meanwhile related to humidity, vegetation properties and human disturbance factors. Good vegetation can provide sufficient food resources and habitat for the ant community, and ants prefer to live in the middle to low altitude zone with high vegetation coverage and hot and moist climate. The ant communities in the vertical zones of northern and southern slopes and from various habitats are significantly differentiated. The above results have important reference value for ecological restoration and species diversity protection.

Key words: Formicidae, species diversity, community, vertical gradient, Tianshan Mountain

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