Ants (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from the Floresta da Tijuca sector, Parque Nacional da Tijuca, Rio de...

Area of Science:

• Biodiversity research
• Entomology
• Conservation biology

Background:

• Ants (Formicidae) are globally abundant social insects with diverse habitats.
• The Neotropical Region hosts approximately 6,000 ant species, with high endemism in the Atlantic Forest biome.
• Parque Nacional da Tijuca (PNT) in Rio de Janeiro is a significant Atlantic Forest remnant with limited known ant diversity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct the first ant inventory of the Floresta da Tijuca sector within PNT.
• To assess ant species richness across areas with varying degrees of habitat preservation.
• To update the known ant diversity and geographic distribution within PNT and the Atlantic Forest.

Main Methods:

• Ants were collected using pitfall traps and Winkler extractors.
• Sampling was conducted in areas representing three distinct levels of habitat preservation.
• Species identification and comparison with existing records were performed.

Main Results:

• A total of 80 ant species were recorded in the Floresta da Tijuca sector.
• This inventory adds 18 species to the sector, 37 to PNT, 10 to Rio de Janeiro, and 1 to the Atlantic Forest biome, increasing PNT's known diversity to 200 species.
• Species richness varied by habitat preservation and season, with primary forests showing higher richness, particularly during the dry season.

Conclusions:

• The study significantly expands the known ant diversity of the Parque Nacional da Tijuca.
• Habitat quality, specifically primary forest, supports greater ant species richness.
• Findings underscore the importance of habitat preservation for maintaining biodiversity in the Atlantic Forest.