Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026

Mycorrhizal Maps as a Tool to Explore Colonization Patterns and Fungal Strategies in the Roots of Festuca rubra and Zea mays
Published on: August 26, 2022
Land Use Shapes Ant Communities: Functional and Compositional Differences Between Oak Forests and Chestnut Orchards
Camila Lourenço-Lima1, Fátima Gonçalves2, María Villa1
1CIMO, LA SusTEC, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal.
Abstract:
Ants are widely used as bioindicators because of their sensitivity to environmental change and their functional roles in ecosystems. This study presents the first comparative analysis of ant communities in two habitats, an agricultural system and a semi-natural forest, within the Natural Park of Montesinho (northeastern Portugal). From May to October 2022, four plots were sampled per habitat: (i) semi-natural oak forest and (ii) chestnut orchard under human management, using five pitfall traps in each plot. A total of 1969 ants were captured, representing 32 species and 15 genera. Traditional chestnut orchards supported more exclusive species and greater functional diversity, dominated by generalist and thermophilic taxa. In contrast, oak forests hosted more specialist and cold-adapted species, which may reflect a higher structural stability. Seasonal variation was more pronounced in chestnut orchards, consistent with disturbance-driven dynamics. The functional composition also differed: chestnut orchards favoured granivores and scavengers, while oak forests supported predators and mutualists. These findings highlight the value of ant communities as sensitive indicators of land use and ecosystem condition in Mediterranean mountain systems.
Related Concept Videos
Ecological Niches
Softwoods and Hardwoods
Optimal Foraging
Habitat Fragmentation
Ecological Disturbance
Ecological Succession

