Formicidae (Hexapoda : Hymenoptera) de dossel em diferentes formações vegetacionais na região norte do Pantanal de Mato Grosso, Brasil

Abstract

The vegetation distribution in mosaics and seasonal flood pulse, characteristic of the Pantanal of Mato Grosso, provide a wide range of habitats and resources for fauna along different seasonal periods to which the region is subject, generating patterns and dynamics of different communities in each habitat type. So, considering the importance of studies that access biodiversity and maintainers mechanisms of their role and stability, especially in priority areas for conservation as the Pantanal of Mato Grosso, this research assessed the richness and distribution of ant assemblages associated with canopies of different forest formations, including monodominant and non-monodominant areas along seasonal periods of dry and high water seasons in the northern region of the Pantanal of Mato Grosso, Brazil. This study is divided into two articles, the first assessing the temporal and spatial variation of the assemblage of ants in two different vegetational formations, whose samples were taken between 2012 and 2014 using canopy fogging method. The second one presents a results compilation of studies conducted between 2001 and 2014 with ants associated with canopies in the northern region of the Pantanal of Mato Grosso. The richness and composition of ants assemblages are different between monodominant and non-monodominant areas, and show variation between periods of dry and high water periods in both vegetation formations, showing that the hydrological seasonality of the Pantanal influences the assemblage of ants between environments studied. In general, the assemblage of Fomicidae in canopies of the studied vegetation types varies depending on the space (vegetation formations) and time (seasonality). The heterogeneity of habitats generated by variation in plant diversity with high dominance of species, influences the richness of canopy ants, showing that this richness is associated with the variety of habitats present in this ecosystem.