Review of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) as bioindicators in the Brazilian Savanna

The Brazilian Savanna is threatened mainly by the expansion of agriculture and livestock. Regarding environmental problems, habitat loss in the biome and the need to verify studies on ants as bioindicators, the goal of this paper was to carry out a bibliographic review of the literature about ants as bioindicators in this biome from the last 30 years. We searched papers about ants as bioindicators in the Brazilian Savanna from the last 30 years, refining the search between the years 1986 to 2016 and we analyzed 16 papers about ants as bioindicators. Monitoring studies focusing on ants as bioindicators in the Brazilian Savanna started in 1992 and increased since 2002. The results obtained in the studies presented changes in the species richness and composition in relation to potential bioindication. In general, 167 species are defined as bioindicators of the Brazilian Savanna and are related to specific habitats. We verified that most studies were done Minas Gerais state. We noted that the absence of rigorous analysis damaged the results of the studies, as well as the knowledge of ant fauna biology for correct attribution of indication characteristics of preserved or degraded areas

The role of urban savannah fragments and their characteristics for the conservation of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in central Brazil

Ants are present in almost all terrestrial environments and are considered indicators of environmental quality. Areas such as the Brazilian savannah have been suffering from intense degradation in the last decades. This work aims to describe the composition of the ant community in Cerrado fragments in urban areas and test how the size and type of fragment affect this composition. The study was carried out in four Cerrado fragments located in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazilian Center-West: two state parks and two private natural heritage reserves. The collections were carried out using 675 pitfall traps for 72 h, and environmental variables were measured in each plot. Overall, 84 ant species were recorded, including five new species for the state. There was a significant difference in species richness and community composition between fragments, and environmental variables significantly affected community composition. Variation in habitat structure may have been due to vertical stratification of the vegetation, elements of understory formation, and the contribution of leaf lit- ter formation. Local, regional, and landscape aspects are significant for the maintenance of local ant biodiversity in cities. However, variation and quality of habitat within the fragments are also preponderant factors in this regard

ATLANTIC ANTS: a data set of ants in Atlantic Forests of South America

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