The recovery of ant communities in regenerating tropical forests

Tropische Regenwälder sind die artenreichsten aller terrestrischen Ökosysteme. Die rasch fortschreitende Zerstörung dieser Wälder stellt eine grosse Bedrohung für die biologische Vielfalt der Erde dar. Jedoch ist die Zerstörung des Waldes selten von Dauer — die landwirtschaftlichen Erträge der umgewandelten Flächen lassen nach, die Nutzung wird aufgegeben und die natürliche Waldregeneration setzt ein. Entscheidend für die Zukunft der Biodiversität in tropischen Wäldern ist, in wie weit diese Sekundärwälder als Ersatzhabitate für Waldarten fungieren und ähnliche Ökosystemfunktionen wie Primärwälder ausüben können. Das Wissen über den Wert von Sekundärwäldern für den Schutz von Biodiversität und Ökosystemfunktionen tropischer Wälder ist jedoch bislang unzureichend. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit ist es, einen Beitrag zur Beurteilung tropischer Sekundärwälder für den Schutz von Biodiversität und Ökosystemfunktionen zu leisten. In meiner Arbeit nutzte ich Ameisen (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) — eine dominante, artenreiche und funktionell wichtige Invertebratengruppe — als Modelorganismen. Alle Untersuchungen wurden im Naturreservat Rio Cachoeira im Küstenregenwald Brasiliens (Mata Atlântica) durchgeführt. Ich besammelte die Ameisengemeinschaft auf insgesamt 27 Untersuchungesflächen, die einen Gradienten der natürlichen Waldsukzession umfassten. Zusätzlich beprobte ich zum Vergleich die Ameisenfauna von Weiden und Primärwäldern. Nach Aufgabe der landwirtschaftlichen Nutzung erholte sich die Diversität der Ameisen in Sekundärwäldern in Bezug auf Artenreichtum und Zusammensetzung der Gemeinschaften nur langsam. Die Verteilung der Ameisentaxa entlang des Sukzessionsgradienten folgte einem verschachtelten Muster: Taxa in jüngeren Sukzessionsstadien waren eine Teilmenge der Taxa, welche auch in älteren Sukzessionsstadien lebten. Die Bodenbedingungen hatten nur einen geringen Einfluss auf das generelle Muster der Regeneration. Allgemein war der Artenreichtum in Wäldern mit vernässten Böden geringer als in Wäldern mit Böden ohne hydromorphe Merkmale. Die hypogäische Ameisengemeinschaft regenerierte langsamer als die epigäische Ameisengemeinschaft. Darüber hinaus weisen Schätzungen von 50 bis zu mehrere hundert Jahre für eine vollständige Regeneration, auf einen wesentlich längeren Zeitraum hin als bisher angenommen wurde. Die funtionelle Diversität der Ameisengemeinschaft war eng gekoppelt an ihre Arten-Diversität. Da Artengemeinschaften von Ameisen eine relativ geringe funktionelle Redundanz aufwiesen, resultierte die verrringerte Arten-Diversität in Sekundärwäldern in eine proportional verringerte funktionelle Diversität. Seltene, jedoch zugleich funktionell einzigartige Arten, fehlten in der Regel in Sekundärwäldern. Diese Ergebnisse weisen darauf hin, daß Sekundärwälder im Vergleich zu Primärwäldern lediglich eine reduziert Ökosystemfunktion ausüben können. Das Wissen über die Mechanismen nach denen sich lokale Artengemeinschaften aus dem regionalen Artenpool zusammensetzen, ist eine wertvolle wissenschaftliche Basis für den Schutz von Biodiversität. Günstige Resourcenverfügbarkeit und Habitatbedingungen übten einen stärkeren Einfluss auf die Zusammensetzung der Ameisengemeinschaften aus als interaktive Prozesse, wie etwa Konkurrenz zwischen den Arten. Trotz ausgeprägter Unterschiede in Artenreichtum und Zusammensetzung lokaler Ameisengemeinschaften, variierte das Muster der Besetzung des Nischen-Raums entlang des Sukzessionsgradienten nur wenig. In einem Feld-Experiment untersuchte ich die Köderpräferenzen von Ameisen (Protein- im Vergleich zu Kohlenhydrat-Ködern) in Sekundärwäldern und Primärwäldern. In Sekundär-wäldern präferierten Ameisen Protein-Köder, während sie in Primärwäldern Kohlenhydrat-Köder bevorzugten. Dies weist auf eine Verschiebung der stoichiometrischen Gleichgwichte zwischen Sekundär- und Primärwäldern hin, was die funktionellen Interaktionen in diesen Habitaten beeinflussen könnte. Zusammenfassend lässt sich feststellen, daß Sekundärwälder nur für einen relativ geringen Teil typischer Waldarten als Ersatzhabitate fungieren können. Die Struktur lokaler Ameisengemeinschaften ist in erster Linie ein Produkt der lokalen Umweltbedingungen. Der gleichzeitige Verlust von Artendiversität und funktioneller Diversität in Sekundärwäldern gibt keinen Anlass zur Hoffnung, daß die Auswirkungen des Artenverlustes in Sekundärwäldern durch funktionelle Redundanz der Ameisengemeinschaften abgemildert werden könnte. Folglich können Sekundärwälder nur einen reduzierten Teil der ökosystemaren Dienste von Primärwäldern bereitstellen. Diese Ergebnisse unterstreichen daher die kritische Bedeutung von Primärwäldern für den Schutz von Biodiversität und Ökosystemfunktionen in der tropischen Waldlandschaft

The PREDICTS database: a global database of how local terrestrial biodiversity responds to human impacts

Biodiversity continues to decline in the face of increasing anthropogenic pressures such as habitat destruction, exploitation, pollution and introduction of alien species. Existing global databases of species’ threat status or population time series are dominated by charismatic species. The collation of datasets with broad taxonomic and biogeographic extents, and that support computation of a range of biodiversity indicators, is necessary to enable better understanding of historical declines and to project – and avert – future declines. We describe and assess a new database of more than 1.6 million samples from 78 countries representing over 28,000 species, collated from existing spatial comparisons of local-scale biodiversity exposed to different intensities and types of anthropogenic pressures, from terrestrial sites around the world. The database contains measurements taken in 208 (of 814) ecoregions, 13 (of 14) biomes, 25 (of 35) biodiversity hotspots and 16 (of 17) megadiverse countries. The database contains more than 1% of the total number of all species described, and more than 1% of the described species within many taxonomic groups – including flowering plants, gymnosperms, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, beetles, lepidopterans and hymenopterans. The dataset, which is still being added to, is therefore already considerably larger and more representative than those used by previous quantitative models of biodiversity trends and responses. The database is being assembled as part of the PREDICTS project (Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems – www.predicts.org.uk). We make site-level summary data available alongside this article. The full database will be publicly available in 2015

Mystrium leonie Bihn & Verhaagh, new species

<i>Mystrium leonie</i> Bihn & Verhaagh, new species <p>Fig. 4–6, 11, 14</p> <p> <b>Type material.</b> HOLOTYPE: Worker. INDONESIA: Papua Province, Jayawijaya, near Elelim, 03°49' S, 139°24' E, 750m a.s.l., December 2004 (leg. A. Riedel), deposited at MZB.</p> <p> <b>Measurements and indices.</b> Holotype worker: HL 2.26, HW 2.45, CI 108, SL 1.63, SI 66, ML 2.80, WL 2.50, PW 1.18.</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis (worker).</b> The following character combination differentiates <i>M. leonie</i> from all its congeners: the apex of each mandible only slightly expanded and subtruncate; outer face of labrum with an irregular rugoreticulum; maxillary palps 3-segmented; the second segment of the maxillary palp longer than the basal (first) and third segment, respectively; antennal segment III at least twice as long as broad; antennal scape broadened in its distal part, this part ventrally tapering into a lamella; each anterolateral corner of the head produced into a long and pointed spine; dorsum of head with rugose-reticulate cuticular sculpture and clavate hairs; minute compound eyes.</p> <p> <b>Description (worker).</b> General morphology of worker as shown in figures 4–6. Head wider than long; posterior margin of head in full-face view deeply and roundly emarginate. Each anterolateral corner of head produced into a forward directed, long and curved spine. Mandibles long and slender, basal 2/3 straight, distal 1/3 incurved; the inner margin with two staggered, longitudinal rows of hamulus-like teeth, each row with 14 teeth; the teeth of the lower row larger than those of the upper row; the apex of each mandible only slightly expanded and subtruncate; the medioventral corner of the apex with an additional tooth; distal 3/4 on dorsal side and distal half on ventral side of each mandible with a longitudinal carina.</p> <p>Labrum (fig. 14) about twice as wide as long; its distal margin convex with a median, broad emargination; outer (ventral) face of labrum entirely foveolate-reticulate, and partly overlaid by an irregular rugoreticulum; this rugoreticulum is restricted to the distal half of the outer face of the labrum.</p> <p>Maxillary palps 3-segmented (fig. 11); the second segment longer than the basal (first) and the distal (third) segment; basal (first) segment cylindrical, its diameter only slightly larger than the diameter of the second segment. Labial palps 3-segmented.</p> <p>Anterior clypeal margin convex with 8 truncated teeth; the teeth evenly spaced along the clypeal margin, without a median toothless gap. Antennal scape (antennal segment I) in dorsal view (as in fig. 4) curved only weakly in its distal part, distal part broadened; in frontal view (perpendicular to dorsal view) scape evenly curved with its predistal part broadened ventrally, tapering into a lamella, apex of scape bends dorsad thus forming a concavity on the dorsal side of the scape. Each of antennal segments II–VIII longer than broad; antennal segment III at least twice as long as broad; antennal segments IX–XII (the four distal segments) forming a weak club. Compound eyes minute, consisting of 7–10 ommatidia, situated near the midpoint of the sides of the head.</p> <p>In lateral view, the dorsal outline of the mesosoma almost flat; promesonotal suture wide and deeply depressed, metanotal groove indistinct. Mesosoma in dorsal view distinctly constricted between pronotum and propodeum. Propodeal spiracle directed laterocaudad. Hind tarsus, when five tarsal segments combined, only slightly longer than hind tibia. Petiolar node in dorsal view more than twice as broad as long. Subpetiolar process expanded anteroventrally and forming a rounded apex. Gastral segment I less than twice as broad as long, nearly as broad as segment II.</p> <p>Head and posterior face of propodeum, dorsa of mesosoma, petiolar node and gastral segment I rugosereticulate; anterodorsal part of head between scape insertion and lateral spine with longitudinal rugae; outer face of each mandible with evenly spaced, oblique rugae; distal part of antennal scape with strong rugae; coxae with strong rugae; dorsa of gastral segments I and II with longitudinal rugae, which are sparsely interconnected by transverse ridges; rugae finer on gastral segment II than on segment I; helcium and girdling constriction of gastral segment II scrobiculate. Intervals between rugae with fine foveolate-reticulate microsculpture; strength of microsculpture varies greatly among body parts: distinct on anterodorsal and mediodorsal faces of head, on lateral faces of mesosoma, in promesonotal depression, on posterior face of propodeum, on anterior face of petiole, on all gastral segments including the presclerites and on legs; microsculpture on posterodorsal and ventral faces of head, and on dorsa of mesosoma and petiolar node very shallow and obscure, i.e. these areas nearly smooth (the less-microsculptured areas were mostly hidden under soil particles, that stuck on the integument [or possibly a mixture of soil particles and integumental secretion], and became visible only after cleaning).</p> <p>Dorsum of head, antennal scape, antennal segments II–VIII, mesosoma, petiole and dorsum of gaster with decumbent to suberect, bluntly pointed, clavate setae; posterodorsal margin of gastral segments I–IV with a row of subdecumbent, longer and narrower clavate setae; pygidium with both clavate and simple hairs; setae on ventral face of head appressed and simple; hairs on ventrum of gaster subdecumbent and simple; antennal segments IX–XII densely covered with decumbent, simple hairs and a few simple, erect hairs.</p> <p>Most body parts dark brown to black, except for anterior part of head, mandibles, antennae and gaster which are of a variable lighter, rusty brown color; coloration of legs changing gradually from black coxae to yellow brown distal tarsal segments; integument mostly dull, but the less-microsculptured areas somewhat shining.</p> <p>Queen and male unknown.</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> Named in dedication to Leonie Geeltje Aimée Wiegel, the daughter of M. Verhaagh, being as unique as this species known from a single specimen. The specific epithet is to be treated as a noun in apposition.</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> The single known specimen was extracted from a leaf litter sample taken in an old growth rainforest near Elelim.</p> <p> <b>Comments.</b> Species of the genus <i>Mystrium</i> in Madagascar show two distinct reproductive strategies and relevant colony structures (Molet <i>et al.</i> 2006). In some species (e.g. <i>M. rogeri</i> Forel 1899) each colony has a single dealate queen with a larger thorax than workers but with mandibles similar to those of the workers. In colonies of other species (e.g. “ <i>M.`red</i> `” in Molet <i>et al.</i> 2006) winged queens are missing and half of the female adults belong to wingless reproductives which are smaller and allometrically distinct from workers. Because of the lack of nest series we cannot know the reproductive strategy adopted by <i>M. leonie</i>. But we can eliminate the possibility that the described specimen of <i>M. leonie</i> is not a worker but a wingless reproductive because wingless reproductives in <i>Mystrium</i> have reduced mandibles which are inappropriate for hunting. The holotype of <i>M. leonie</i> has well-developed mandibles.</p> <p>Much of the holotype specimen, and especially the dorsum, is covered with a tightly adhering layer that is presumably soil and/or detritus. This layer in combination with the overall cryptic behavior probably acts as a camouflage for foragers in the leaf litter.</p>Published as part of <i>Bihn, Jochen H. & Verhaagh, Manfred, 2007, A review of the genus Mystrium (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Indo-Australian region, pp. 1-12 in Zootaxa 1642</i> on pages 5-7, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/273961">10.5281/zenodo.273961</a&gt

Mystrium maren Bihn & Verhaagh, new species

Mystrium maren Bihn & Verhaagh, new species Fig. 7 –9, 12, 15 Type material. HOLOTYPE: Worker. INDONESIA: West Papua Province, Waigeo Island, near Urbinasopen, Gunung Susu, 0° 22 ' 45 '' S, 131 ° 15 ' 10 '' E, 350–450m a.s.l., January 2001 (leg. A. Riedel), deposited at MZB. PARATYPE: worker from the same collection as holotype, deposited at SMNK. Measurements and indices. Holotype worker: HL 2.46, HW 2.72, CI 111, SL 1.84, SI 68, ML 2,81, WL 2.73, PW 1.37; Paratype worker: HL 2.34, HW 2.64, CI 113, SL 1.71, SI 65, ML 2.81, WL 2.62, PW 1.35. Diagnosis (worker). The following character combination differentiates M. maren from all its congeners: the outer and inner margins of mandibles in dorsal view parallel and sinuate; the apex of each mandible only slightly expanded and subtruncate; outer face of labrum with a bilateral-symmetric rugoreticulum; maxillary palps 4 -segmented; the second segment of the maxillary palp longer than the basal (first) segment; antennal segment III at least twice as long as broad; each anterolateral corner of the head produced into a long and pointed spine; dorsum of head with rugose-reticulate cuticular sculpture and spatulate to clavate hairs; minute compound eyes. Description (worker). General morphology of the worker as shown in figures 7–9. Head wider than long; posterior margin of head in full-face view deeply and roundly emarginate. Each anterolateral corner of the head produced into a forward directed, long and curved spine. Mandibles long and slender; the outer and inner margins of each mandible in dorsal view parallel and distinctly sinuate; the inner margin with two staggered, longitudinal rows of hamulus-like teeth, each row with 12–14 teeth; teeth of the lower row larger than those of the upper row; the apex of each mandible only slightly expanded and subtruncate; the medioventral corner of the apex with an additional tooth; distal 2 / 3 on the dorsal face and distal half on the ventral face of each mandible with a longitudinal carina. Labrum (fig. 15) about twice as wide as long; its distal margin convex with a median emargination; outer (ventral) face of labrum entirely foveolate-reticulate, and overlaid by a peculiar pattern of rugae: one ruga running between basolateral corners in an arc which is parallel to the distal margin and divides the outer surface of the labrum into distal and basal areas; additional rugae delimiting symmetrically two roughly rectangular fields on the median portion of the distal area. Maxillary palps 4 -segmented (fig. 12); the basal (first) segment roughly cone-shaped, shorter and much broader than the second. Labial palps 3 -segmented. Anterior clypeal margin convex with 9 truncated teeth; the teeth evenly spaced along the clypeal margin, without a median toothless gap. Antennal scape (antennal segment I) in dorsal view (as in fig. 7) curved only weakly and broadened in its distal part, in frontal view (perpendicular to dorsal view) strongly curved, with its predistal part ventrally broadened; apex of scape bends only weakly dorsad in this view. Each of antennal segments II–VI longer than broad; antennal segment III at least twice as long as broad; antennal segments IX–XII (the four distal segments) forming a weak club. Compound eyes minute, consisting of 7–10 ommatidia, situated near the midpoint of the sides of the head. In lateral view, the dorsal outline of the mesosoma almost flat; promesonotal suture wide and deeply depressed; metanotal groove distinct but shallower and narrower than promesonotal suture. Mesosoma in dorsal view distinctly constricted between pronotum and propodeum. Propodeal spiracle directed laterad. Hind tarsus, when five tarsal segments combined, only slightly longer than hind tibia. Petiolar node in dorsal view about twice as broad as long. Subpetiolar process expanded anteroventrally and forming a rounded apex. Gastral segment I in dorsal view less than twice as broad as long, nearly as broad as the segment II. Head and dorsa of mesosoma, petiolar node and gastral segment I rugose-reticulate; anterodorsal part of head between scape insertion and lateral spine with longitudinal rugae; lateral face of each mandible with evenly spaced, oblique rugae; coxae with strong rugae; dorsa of gastral segments I and II with longitudinal rugae, which are sparsely interconnected by transverse ridges; rugae finer on gastral segment II than on I; helcium and girdling constriction of gastral segment II scrobiculate; intervals between rugae with fine foveolatereticulate microsculpture; strength of microsculpture varies greatly among body parts: distinct on anterodorsal and mediodorsal faces of head, on lateral faces of mesosoma, in promesonotal depression, on posterior face of propodeum, on anterior face of petiole, on all gastral segments including the presclerites and on legs; microsculpture on posteriodorsal and ventral faces of head, and on dorsa of mesosoma and petiolar node very shallow and obscure, i.e. the areas nearly smooth (the less-microsculptured areas were mostly hidden under soil particles, that stuck on the integument [or possibly a mixture of soil particles and integumental secretion], and became visible only after cleaning). Dorsum of head, antennal scape, antennal segments II–VII, mesosoma, petiole and dorsum of gaster with decumbent to suberect, bluntly pointed, narrowly spatulate or clavate setae; posterodorsal margin of gastral segments I–IV with a row of subdecumbent, longer and narrower spatulate setae; pygidium with both spatulate and simple hairs; setae on ventrum of head appressed and simple; hairs on ventrum of gaster subdecumbent and simple; antennal segment IX–XII densely covered with decumbent, simple hairs and a few simple, erect hairs. Most body parts dark brown to black, except for anterior part of head, mandibles, antennae and gaster which are of a variable lighter, rusty brown color; coloration of legs changing gradually from dark brown coxae to yellow brown apical tarsal segments; integument mostly dull, but the less-microsculptured areas somewhat shining. Queen and male unknown. Etymology. Named in dedication to Dr. Maren Scheidhauer, friend of the first author and as beautiful — though of low overall resemblance — as this ant. The specific name is an arbitrary combination, to be treated as a noun in apposition. Distribution. The two known specimens were extracted from a leaf litter sample taken in an old growth rainforest near the summit of Gunung Susu. Comments. As in M. leonie we cannot determine which reproductive strategy M. maren follows. But we conclude that the described specimen is a worker because wingless reproductives in Mystrium have reduced mandibles which are inappropriate for hunting. This is clearly not the case for the holotype of M. maren. The holotype and paratype of M. maren show similar camouflage tendencies as described for M. leonie.Published as part of Bihn, Jochen H. & Verhaagh, Manfred, 2007, A review of the genus Mystrium (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Indo-Australian region, pp. 1-12 in Zootaxa 1642 on pages 7-11, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.27396

Mystrium camillae Emery

Mystrium camillae Emery Fig. 1 –3, 10, 13 Mystrium Camillae [sic] Emery, 1889: 491, pl. 10, figs. 1–3. Syntype worker and queen: Myanmar (as “ Birmania ”: Bhamò (Fea) [MCSN] (not examined; photographs of syntype worker and queen examined on AntWeb (www.antweb.org): CASENT0102123 (worker), CASENT0102124 (queen)). Mystrium camillae Emery subsp. javana Karawaiew, 1925: 73, figs. 1 & 2. Syntype worker: Java, limestone mountain near Tjampea, no. 2389, 2 workers on the ground, under leaves (Karawaiew) (not examined). Synonymy by Brown, 1960: 170. Mystrium camillae; Menozzi, 1929: 535 –536, fig. 9. Revision of the genus and key to species. Mystrium oculatum Xu, 1998: 161, figs. 1 & 2. Holotype worker: China: Yunnan Province, Mengla County, Menglun Town, Bakaxiaozhai (Xu Zheng-hui) [SWFC] (not examined; photographs of paratype examined on AntWeb (www.antweb.org): CASENT0104982 (worker)). New synonymy. Material examined. Indonesia: Sumatra: Lampung, Tulang Bawang, Gn. Tanggang, 05° 43.933 ' S, 105 °06.598' E, 580m (1 worker, 9.VIII. 2006, A. Riedel) [SMNK]; Sumatra: Lampung, Tulang Bawang, Gn. Tanggang, 05° 43.938 ' S, 105 °06.440' E, 580m (5 workers, 9.VIII. 2006, A. Riedel) [SMNK]; Java: Jawa Barat, Ciamis, Gn. Sawal, Batu Cakra, 07° 14 ' 55 '' S, 108 ° 15 ' 46 '' E, 990m (1 worker, 1.X. 2005, A. Riedel) [SMNK]. MALAYSIA (WEST): Negri Sembilan, Simpang Pertang, Pasoh Forest Reserve, 02° 59 ' N, 102 ° 19 ' E (1 worker, 29.III. 1992, K. Rościszewski) [SMNK]; MALAYSIA (WEST): Terengganu, Lake Kenyir, 04° 58 ' N, 102 ° 49 ' E, 300–400m (22 workers, 7.– 12.VII. 2001, A. Schulz) [SMNK]. Measurements and indices. Workers: HL 0.81–1.75, HW 0.85–1.64, CI 88–105, SL 0.50 –1.00, SI 54– 64, ML 0.52–1.75, WL 0.91–1.49, PW 0.47–0.80 (n = 31). Diagnosis (worker). The following character combination differentiates M. camillae from all its congeners in the Indo-Australian region: the apex of each mandible distinctly expanded and rounded in lateral view, with a more or less triangular and caudally directed tip on the inner side; outer face of labrum entirely covered with a weakly developed, irregular rugoreticulum; maxillary palps 4 -segmented; the second segment of the maxillary palp shorter than the basal (first) segment and less than half as broad as the basal segment; antennal segment III shorter than twice its width; each anterolateral corner of the head produced into a short, nearly triangular, pointed spine; dorsum of head with rugose-reticulate cuticular sculpture and spatulate hairs; minute compound eyes; petiolar node not broader than twice its length measured in dorsal view. Distribution. Widely distributed in the Indo-Australian region and neighboring countries. Recorded from Australia, Brunei, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Singapore. Comments. Brown (1960, p. 170) gave no justification for the synonymy of M. camillae subsp. javana under M. camillae but the differences between the taxa given in the description of Karawaiew (1925) fall within the variation of the senior synonym. The most important difference between the taxa — the shape of the mandible apex — depends on the angle from which the mandible is viewed. The triangular tip is highly variable in the specimens examined and often worn out. The number of truncated teeth at the anterior clypeal margin varies from 6–7 in the specimens we have seen and thus is not a character to distinguish the taxa. In most cases there is a toothless gap between the left and right group of these teeth (but see the specimens from Northern Australia depicted on AntWeb [CASENT0172841, CASENT0172082]. From Karawaiew’s description it is clear that he never had a specimen of M. camillae at hand but made his judgment of the species just from the description and the drawings of Emery (1889). Xu (1998: 161, figs. 1 & 2) notes in his description of M. oculatum that this species is close to M. camillae but differs from it by: “small eyes present; central dorsum of hat flat; metanotal groove only shallowly depressed; declivity of propodeum flat, not depressed; anterodorsal angle of petiolar node more extruding.” All examined specimens of M. camillae possess minute compound eyes. The presence of eyes was already noted in the original description of M. camillae by Emery (1889) and again in Menozzi’s revision. Therefore, the presence of eyes in M. oculatum cannot be regarded as a diagnostic character to distinguish it from M. camillae. All other diagnostic characters given for M. oculatum by Xu vary much among individuals of M. camillae. The morphology of M. oculatum as described by Xu (1998: 161–162, figs. 1 & 2) and shown by photographs of a paratype of M. oculatum on AntWeb (www.antweb.org: CASENT0104982) falls well within the range of morphological variation exhibited by the examined specimens of M. camillae. Additionally, all but one metric character of M. oculatum fall into the range of M. camillae. The exception is CI, which is slightly higher.Published as part of Bihn, Jochen H. & Verhaagh, Manfred, 2007, A review of the genus Mystrium (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Indo-Australian region, pp. 1-12 in Zootaxa 1642 on pages 2-3, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.27396

The recovery of ant communities in regenerating tropical forests

Tropische Regenwälder sind die artenreichsten aller terrestrischen Ökosysteme. Die rasch fortschreitende Zerstörung dieser Wälder stellt eine grosse Bedrohung für die biologische Vielfalt der Erde dar. Jedoch ist die Zerstörung des Waldes selten von Dauer — die landwirtschaftlichen Erträge der umgewandelten Flächen lassen nach, die Nutzung wird aufgegeben und die natürliche Waldregeneration setzt ein. Entscheidend für die Zukunft der Biodiversität in tropischen Wäldern ist, in wie weit diese Sekundärwälder als Ersatzhabitate für Waldarten fungieren und ähnliche Ökosystemfunktionen wie Primärwälder ausüben können. Das Wissen über den Wert von Sekundärwäldern für den Schutz von Biodiversität und Ökosystemfunktionen tropischer Wälder ist jedoch bislang unzureichend. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit ist es, einen Beitrag zur Beurteilung tropischer Sekundärwälder für den Schutz von Biodiversität und Ökosystemfunktionen zu leisten. In meiner Arbeit nutzte ich Ameisen (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) — eine dominante, artenreiche und funktionell wichtige Invertebratengruppe — als Modelorganismen. Alle Untersuchungen wurden im Naturreservat Rio Cachoeira im Küstenregenwald Brasiliens (Mata Atlântica) durchgeführt. Ich besammelte die Ameisengemeinschaft auf insgesamt 27 Untersuchungesflächen, die einen Gradienten der natürlichen Waldsukzession umfassten. Zusätzlich beprobte ich zum Vergleich die Ameisenfauna von Weiden und Primärwäldern. Nach Aufgabe der landwirtschaftlichen Nutzung erholte sich die Diversität der Ameisen in Sekundärwäldern in Bezug auf Artenreichtum und Zusammensetzung der Gemeinschaften nur langsam. Die Verteilung der Ameisentaxa entlang des Sukzessionsgradienten folgte einem verschachtelten Muster: Taxa in jüngeren Sukzessionsstadien waren eine Teilmenge der Taxa, welche auch in älteren Sukzessionsstadien lebten. Die Bodenbedingungen hatten nur einen geringen Einfluss auf das generelle Muster der Regeneration. Allgemein war der Artenreichtum in Wäldern mit vernässten Böden geringer als in Wäldern mit Böden ohne hydromorphe Merkmale. Die hypogäische Ameisengemeinschaft regenerierte langsamer als die epigäische Ameisengemeinschaft. Darüber hinaus weisen Schätzungen von 50 bis zu mehrere hundert Jahre für eine vollständige Regeneration, auf einen wesentlich längeren Zeitraum hin als bisher angenommen wurde. Die funtionelle Diversität der Ameisengemeinschaft war eng gekoppelt an ihre Arten-Diversität. Da Artengemeinschaften von Ameisen eine relativ geringe funktionelle Redundanz aufwiesen, resultierte die verrringerte Arten-Diversität in Sekundärwäldern in eine proportional verringerte funktionelle Diversität. Seltene, jedoch zugleich funktionell einzigartige Arten, fehlten in der Regel in Sekundärwäldern. Diese Ergebnisse weisen darauf hin, daß Sekundärwälder im Vergleich zu Primärwäldern lediglich eine reduziert Ökosystemfunktion ausüben können. Das Wissen über die Mechanismen nach denen sich lokale Artengemeinschaften aus dem regionalen Artenpool zusammensetzen, ist eine wertvolle wissenschaftliche Basis für den Schutz von Biodiversität. Günstige Resourcenverfügbarkeit und Habitatbedingungen übten einen stärkeren Einfluss auf die Zusammensetzung der Ameisengemeinschaften aus als interaktive Prozesse, wie etwa Konkurrenz zwischen den Arten. Trotz ausgeprägter Unterschiede in Artenreichtum und Zusammensetzung lokaler Ameisengemeinschaften, variierte das Muster der Besetzung des Nischen-Raums entlang des Sukzessionsgradienten nur wenig. In einem Feld-Experiment untersuchte ich die Köderpräferenzen von Ameisen (Protein- im Vergleich zu Kohlenhydrat-Ködern) in Sekundärwäldern und Primärwäldern. In Sekundär-wäldern präferierten Ameisen Protein-Köder, während sie in Primärwäldern Kohlenhydrat-Köder bevorzugten. Dies weist auf eine Verschiebung der stoichiometrischen Gleichgwichte zwischen Sekundär- und Primärwäldern hin, was die funktionellen Interaktionen in diesen Habitaten beeinflussen könnte. Zusammenfassend lässt sich feststellen, daß Sekundärwälder nur für einen relativ geringen Teil typischer Waldarten als Ersatzhabitate fungieren können. Die Struktur lokaler Ameisengemeinschaften ist in erster Linie ein Produkt der lokalen Umweltbedingungen. Der gleichzeitige Verlust von Artendiversität und funktioneller Diversität in Sekundärwäldern gibt keinen Anlass zur Hoffnung, daß die Auswirkungen des Artenverlustes in Sekundärwäldern durch funktionelle Redundanz der Ameisengemeinschaften abgemildert werden könnte. Folglich können Sekundärwälder nur einen reduzierten Teil der ökosystemaren Dienste von Primärwäldern bereitstellen. Diese Ergebnisse unterstreichen daher die kritische Bedeutung von Primärwäldern für den Schutz von Biodiversität und Ökosystemfunktionen in der tropischen Waldlandschaft

Data from: Do secondary forests act as refuges for old growth forest animals? Recovery of ant diversity in the Atlantic forest of Brazil

The extent to which secondary forests occupying degraded and abandoned lands provide suitable habitat for forest-adapted species is an important conservation issue in times of vanishing old growth forests. We used ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), a functionally important and diverse group of invertebrates, to investigate the recovery of soil taxa during secondary forest succession in the Atlantic Forest of Southern Brazil. We compared the resilience of epigeic vs. hypogeic ant assemblages. For this purpose we established 27 sites that encompassed a chronosequence from pastures to old growth forests on two contrasting soil types. Our results are based on a collection of 35 508 individuals in 40 genera. Richness and composition of ant assemblages in secondary forests have recovered slowly and have not approached conditions typical of old growth forests. The distribution of genera along the successional stages was arranged in a nested pattern where ant genera of younger successional stages were a subset of genera present in older stages. Edaphic conditions had no influence on the recovery process. Overall, richness of ants was lower at study sites with water-logged soils than at sites where soils did not exhibit hydromorphic properties. The hypogeic ant assemblage recovered more slowly than the epigeic assemblage. Our results show that secondary forests do not act as refuges for many forest-adapted animals which are currently restricted to discontinuous patches of old growth forest in the highly endangered Atlantic Forest of Brazil. Moreover, estimated recovery times of 50 to several hundred years suggest it would take much longer than previously presumed for complete recolonization

Data from: Do secondary forests act as refuges for old growth forest animals? Recovery of ant diversity in the Atlantic forest of Brazil

The extent to which secondary forests occupying degraded and abandoned lands provide suitable habitat for forest-adapted species is an important conservation issue in times of vanishing old growth forests. We used ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), a functionally important and diverse group of invertebrates, to investigate the recovery of soil taxa during secondary forest succession in the Atlantic Forest of Southern Brazil. We compared the resilience of epigeic vs. hypogeic ant assemblages. For this purpose we established 27 sites that encompassed a chronosequence from pastures to old growth forests on two contrasting soil types. Our results are based on a collection of 35 508 individuals in 40 genera. Richness and composition of ant assemblages in secondary forests have recovered slowly and have not approached conditions typical of old growth forests. The distribution of genera along the successional stages was arranged in a nested pattern where ant genera of younger successional stages were a subset of genera present in older stages. Edaphic conditions had no influence on the recovery process. Overall, richness of ants was lower at study sites with water-logged soils than at sites where soils did not exhibit hydromorphic properties. The hypogeic ant assemblage recovered more slowly than the epigeic assemblage. Our results show that secondary forests do not act as refuges for many forest-adapted animals which are currently restricted to discontinuous patches of old growth forest in the highly endangered Atlantic Forest of Brazil. Moreover, estimated recovery times of 50 to several hundred years suggest it would take much longer than previously presumed for complete recolonization

Ant-diaspore interactions during secondary succession in the Atlantic forest of Brazil

Animal-plant interactions are important for the recovery of diversity and processes in secondary forests, which increasingly dominate the tropical landscape. We used a combination of observational and experimental approaches to study the interactions of ants with diaspores across a successional gradient of forests in Southern Brazil, from August 2007 to April 2008. In addition to diaspore removal rates, we assessed the species richness, diversity and behaviour of ants interacting with diaspores, in three replicated sites of four successional stages of forests. We recorded 22 ant species interacting with diaspores (an estimated 15% of the total species pool in the region). Species richness and diversity did not differ among successional stages but the behaviour of ants towards diaspores changed with the age of secondary forests. In old successional stages the removal of entire diaspores was more common than in young successional stages of forests. Concordantly, diaspore removal rates were lowest in the youngest successional stage of secondary forests and increased with the age of forests. These results indicate that ant-diaspore interactions in secondary forests are disturbed and lower removal rates in secondary forests are likely to constrain the recruitment of plant populations during secondary succession. Rev. Biol. Trop. 60 (2): 933-942. Epub 2012 June 01