D3519: Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) diversity loss in a recently urbanized area in Querétaro, Mexico

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM MST

Location: Phoenix Convention Center, Exhibit Hall 6, PCC

Presenting Author(s)

Javier G. Miguelena, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Arkansas State University
Querétaro, Queretaro de Arteaga, Mexico

Co-Author(s)

LQ

Luis Quintana

Arkansas State University
Queretaro, Queretaro de Arteaga, Mexico
BT

Bruno Trejo-Pimentel

Arkansas State University
Queretaro, Queretaro de Arteaga, Mexico
XZ

Ximena Zamora-Prieto

Arkansas State University
Queretaro, Queretaro de Arteaga, Mexico
IS

Itzel Santillan delgadillo

Arkansas State University
Queretaro, Queretaro de Arteaga, Mexico

Urbanization profoundly affects ecosystems by removing much of the original vegetation and replacing it with built-up areas and non-native plants. Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) communities are remarkably sensitive to land use changes, which frequently results in changes in their abundance and diversity. Research on ants in urban environments often reports changes in the species present and occasionally a loss of diversity, although studies have typically focused on the late effects of urbanization. To determine the early effects of urban development on ground-nesting ant communities, we sampled contrasting rural and recently urbanized areas in Querétaro, Mexico. Ants were captured at five sites within each area using pitfall traps in two sampling seasons (fall 2022 and spring 2023). Regarding composition, most of the recorded species were present in both environments. However, more species were exclusive to rural areas than to urban areas. During the fall, abundance showed a large and significant decrease in the urban environment, suggesting that it may be a low-quality habitat for ants. The number of species recorded per site was significantly higher in the rural area in the fall but not in the spring. These fluctuations in diversity and abundance may result from different disturbance and resource availability regimes in the two environments. Ultimately, such differences could impact other organisms that directly interact with ants and ants' ability to provide ecosystem services.