Comparison of ant community composition across different land-use types: assessing morphological traits with more common methods

Abstract

Quantitative measures (morphological traits), which are influenced by species ecology, habitat use and evolutionary history, may be as important as species identity when assessing differences in community structures among land-use types. We used ant communities as the response taxa to assess how three different measures of community diversity differ across three different land-use types (Native Remnant, Native Pasture and Crop Stubble). Ants were collected using pitfall traps and sorted into morphospecies, abundances recorded, and classified into Andersen's functional groups. Two morphological traits (thorax length and mid-femur length) related to body size and dispersal ability were also measured to assess if morphologically different suites of ants (e.g. short thorax and short mid-femur) were selected for in each land-use type. Native Remnants exhibited the most speciose ant assemblages, as anticipated; however, functional group structure did not differ significantly between land-use types. The relationship between thorax and mid-femur length differed significantly between land-use types, with assemblages within Crop Stubble exhibiting significantly higher femur: thorax ratio compared to Native Remnants. We found that land management strategies not only impact on species richness but also on the morphological traits exhibited by ants.