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GABI-I: The global ant biodiversity informatics-island database
Cong Liu1, Evan P Economo2,3, Benoit Guénard4
1Department of Organismic and Evolutional Biology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Ecology
|December 28, 2022
Summary
This study presents a global database of ant species on islands, revealing 7010 species and highlighting 108 islands with no ant sampling. This resource aids understanding of island biodiversity and conservation needs.
Area of Science:
- Island biogeography
- Ant ecology
- Biodiversity informatics
Background:
- Island systems host unique biodiversity and face significant threats.
- Knowledge of insect biodiversity on islands, particularly ants, is fragmented.
- This fragmentation hinders global biodiversity assessments and conservation planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compile a comprehensive global database of ant species on islands.
- To document the native or exotic status of island ant species.
- To identify islands lacking ant sampling for future research and conservation.
Main Methods:
- Development of a novel database integrating ant species data from 2678 islands worldwide.
- Inclusion of nominal species data and native/exotic status.
- Analysis of 449,232 ant records to represent 7010 species.
Main Results:
- The database encompasses 7010 ant species, representing 44.6% of the known global ant fauna.
- Data covers 2678 islands, with 108 large islands (>200 km²) identified as unsampled for ants.
- Provides the most extensive overview of global island ant diversity and composition.
Conclusions:
- The database offers unprecedented insights into island ant diversity, composition, and biogeography.
- It serves as a critical resource for future research in ecology, evolution, and biogeography.
- Identifies key areas for future ant exploration and conservation efforts on islands globally.
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