- Departamento de Zoologia
Universidade Federal do Paraná
Caixa Postal 19020
81531-980 Curitiba - PR - Brasil - +55 41 33611639
- Phylogenetics, Entomology, Myrmecology, Systematics (Taxonomy), Biogeography, Ants, and 24 moreTaxonomy, Hymenoptera systematics, Hymenoptera, Ecology, Conservation Biology, Survey Methodology, Systematics, Functional Morphology, Reproductive Biology, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Species Distribution Models, Brazilian cerrado, Atlantic Forest, Biology, Ecology and Taxonomy of Ants, Behavior of Ants, Evolutionary Biology, Molecular Biology, Biodiversity, Zoology, Phylogeny/phylogenetics, Insect Systematics, Systematic Entomology, and Plant-Animal Interactionsedit
A list of ant species collected in caves at different localities of Minas Gerais state, Brazil is presented, based on specimens deposited in the Entomological Collection Padre Jesus Santiago Moure (DZUP). Of the 51 species/morphospecies... more
A list of ant species collected in caves at different localities of Minas Gerais state, Brazil is presented, based on specimens deposited in the Entomological Collection Padre Jesus Santiago Moure (DZUP). Of the 51 species/morphospecies found, two are new records for the state. We encourage an increase in ant collection efforts in Brazilian caves using different sampling techniques and comparative approaches in order to improve the current knowledge of ant diversity in these environments.
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As formigas são um grupo chave na fisiologia dos pomares cítricos, pois podem beneficiá-los atacando herbívoros, ou prejudicá-los, protegendo os sugadores de seiva. Assim, objetivou-se comparar a estrutura das assembleias de formigas de... more
As formigas são um grupo chave na fisiologia dos pomares cítricos, pois podem beneficiá-los atacando herbívoros, ou prejudicá-los, protegendo os sugadores de seiva. Assim, objetivou-se comparar a estrutura das assembleias de formigas de dois pomares cítricos (convencional e orgânico), através da abundância, riqueza, diversidade e composição de espécies, amostradas, por armadilhas de queda, em Paranavaí/PR. O cultivo orgânico comportou três vezes mais espécies exclusivas, e o dobro de espécies caçadoras especialistas, que o convencional. Deduz-se que os pesticidas agem tornando indisponíveis as presas das caçadoras especialistas, de modo que a composição de espécies pode ser mais importante para a compreensão da estrutura dos pomares cítricos do que a diversidade, a riqueza e a abundância, em estudos com pesticidas, em ambientes tropicais. Infere-se que as culturas orgânicas têm maior capacidade de manter a diversidade local do que as culturas convencionais.
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Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant initiated a large reforestation programme after the expropriation of the areas destined for the formation of the reservoir. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of forest restoration of the... more
Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant initiated a large reforestation programme after the expropriation of the areas destined for the formation of the reservoir. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of forest restoration of the Seasonal Semideciduous Forest in the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest ecoregion, Brazil, using epigaeic ant assemblages as bioindicators, by comparing ant species richness and composition in the Reservoir Protection Strip with adjacent areas, such as the primary forest of the Iguaçu National Park and the Permanent Preservation Area located on a rural property and agricultural areas. In total, 171 ant species were identified. Ant species richness was higher in forest than in agricultural areas and did not differ among forest areas. However, ant species composition in forest areas, regardless of the restoration technique used, was not similar to the primary forest, possibly due to variation in forest recovery time. This study highlights the great value of the Iguaçu National Park as a conservation unit. Also, it reveals that the efforts for the creation and maintenance of the Reservoir Protection Strip, which remains without anthropic interventions for years, might indeed lead to a complete recovery of the ant species composition over time, reinforcing their great importance for biodiversity conservation.
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Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space. While the increasing availability of... more
Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space. While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes vast areas of the tropics remain understudied. In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity, but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases. To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost.
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Recent studies have argued that changes in fire regimes in the 21st century are posing a major threat to global biodiversity. In this scenario, incorporating species’ physiological, ecological, and evolutionary traits with their local... more
Recent studies have argued that changes in fire regimes in the 21st century are posing a major threat to global biodiversity. In this scenario, incorporating species’ physiological, ecological, and evolutionary traits with their local fire exposure might facilitate accurate identification of species most at risk from fire. Here, we developed a framework for identifying the animal species most vulnerable to extinction from fire-induced stress in the Brazilian savanna. The proposed framework addresses vulnerability from two components: (1) exposure, which refers to the frequency, extent, and magnitude to which a system or species experiences fire, and (2) sensitivity, which reflects how much species are affected by fire. Sensitivity is based on biological, physiological, and behavioral traits that can influence animals’ mortality “during” and “after” fire. We generated a Fire Vulnerability Index (FVI) that can be used to group species into four categories, ranging from extremely vulnerable (highly sensible species in highly exposed areas), to least vulnerable (low-sensitivity species in less exposed areas). We highlight the urgent need to broaden fire vulnerability assessment methods and introduce a new approach considering biological traits that contribute significantly to a species’ sensitivity alongside regional/local fire exposure.
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Research findings in natural sciences need to be comparable and reproducible to effectively improve our understanding of ecological and behavioural patterns. In this sense, knowledge frontiers in biodiversity studies are directly tied to... more
Research findings in natural sciences need to be comparable and reproducible to effectively improve our understanding of ecological and behavioural patterns. In this sense, knowledge frontiers in biodiversity studies are directly tied to taxonomic research, especially in species-rich tropical regions. Here we analysed the taxonomic information available in 470 studies on Brazilian ant diversity published in the last 50 years. We aimed to quantify the proportion of studies that provide enough data to validate taxonomic identification, explore the frequency of studies that properly acknowledge their taxonomic background, and investigate the primary resources for ant identification in Brazil. We found that most studies on Brazilian ant diversity (73.6%) explicitly stated the methods used to identify their specimens. However, the proportion of papers that provide complete data for the repository institutions and vouchered specimens is vanishingly small (5.8%). Additionally, only 40.0% of the studies consistently presented taxon authorities and years of description, rarely referencing taxonomic publications correctly. In turn, the number of specialists and institutions consulted for ant identification in Brazil has increased in the last years, along with the number of studies that explicitly provide their taxonomic procedures for ant identification. Our findings highlight a shift between generations regarding the recognition of taxonomy as fundamental science, deepening our understanding of biodiversity.
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Animals are integrated into the wider ecosystem via their foraging and behaviour. The compensation hypothesis predicts that animals target their foraging efforts (i) towards nutrients that are scarce in the environment and (ii) towards... more
Animals are integrated into the wider ecosystem via their foraging and behaviour. The compensation hypothesis predicts that animals target their foraging efforts (i) towards nutrients that are scarce in the environment and (ii) towards nutrients that are not present in the usual diet of species, which varies across trophic levels. Understanding how foraging for resources varies locally, such as across habitat strata, and trophic levels will help to elucidate the links between the local environment and communities to the ecological functions that animals mediate. We examined whether the relative resource use of ants varies consistently along a habitat strata gradient and across trophic levels across Neotropical biomes. We placed 4500 baited tubes, each containing one of five liquid resources (sugar, amino acid, lipid, sodium, and distilled water) in one of three habitat strata (subterranean, epigaeic, and arboreal) across 60 transects in Amazon, Atlantic Forest, Caatinga, Cerrado, Pampa, and Pantanal biomes. We assessed the relative resource use of all ants across the habitat strata and among two different trophic groups across biomes. The relative preference for sugar increased from subterranean to arboreal strata in all biomes, while the relative preference for lipids decreased at this gradient in five biomes. We also found that in general sugar-consuming ants foraged more for sugar and less for lipids than predatory ants across biomes. Conversely, we found no consistency across biomes in nutrient preference of amino acid and sodium across habitat strata or trophic levels. Overall, our results indicate sugar limitation in the arboreal stratum and lipid limitation on the ground across biomes and that the trophic level of ants strongly determines their foraging efforts - possibly because ants try to fix their dietary nutrient imbalances. Hence, our findings suggest strong local niche partitioning of sugar and lipid use across habitat strata and trophic levels and that other large spatial scale processes influence the local amino acid and sodium dynamics.
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Pteridium is a cosmopolitan genus of ferns that possess nectaries on its fronds (fern leaves), thereby attracting ants. Foliar (or extrafloral) nectaries are nectar-producing glands that are not related to pollination, but rather attract... more
Pteridium is a cosmopolitan genus of ferns that possess nectaries on its fronds (fern leaves), thereby attracting ants. Foliar (or extrafloral) nectaries are nectar-producing glands that are not related to pollination, but rather attract ants and other arthropods. Foliar nectaries are found in 101 fern species, belonging to 11 genera and six families. The aim of the study is to characterize the community of ants that visit the fronds of Pteridium esculentum subsp. arachnoideum, as well as daily and seasonal ant abundance in different frond development stages. The study was conducted in the Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Bimonthly collections were established, where 30 expanding fronds and 30 fully expanded fronds were randomly marked. In each 1-hour shift starting at 8:30 am and ending at 5:30 pm, the fronds were observed for the presence of ants. Thirty three ant species were recorded on the Pteridium esculentum subsp. arachnoideum fronds, distributed into six subfamilies and 13 genera. The most abundant species were Solenopsis sp.1 and Ectatomma tuberculatum. Eight ant species were observed foraging the nectaries of tropical bracken fern fronds. Ectatomma tuberculatum has been observed feeding on the nectaries and patrolling the fronds. Ant activity peak was on midday during the rainy season. The tropical bracken fern Pteridium esculentum subsp. arachnoideum has a rich (the highest recorded until now on Pteridium species) and diverse ant community on its fronds, mainly on the expanding fronds. The presence of generalist predatory ants (Ectatomma tuberculatum and Solenopsis sp.1) during the entire study period suggests a positive interaction between ants and Pteridium esculentum subsp. arachnoideum.
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Here, we provide information on the diet of Stereocyclops incrassatus using high resolution microcomputed tomography images of a preserved museum specimen. The tomography of S. incrassatus (CFBH 22911), collected in the Municipality of... more
Here, we provide information on the diet of Stereocyclops incrassatus using high resolution microcomputed tomography images of a preserved museum specimen. The tomography of S. incrassatus (CFBH 22911), collected in the Municipality of Linhares, Espírito Santo, in southeastern Brazil, revealed the consumption of a worker ant of the genus Ectatomma (Formicidae:Ectatomminae), a curculionid beetle, and an anuran.
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Ants represent one of the most diverse and ecologically important group of insects in tropical ecosystems, including in highly threatened ones such as the Brazilian Cerrado. Yet, a detailed understanding of the species diversity and... more
Ants represent one of the most diverse and ecologically important group of insects in tropical ecosystems, including in highly threatened ones such as the Brazilian Cerrado. Yet, a detailed understanding of the species diversity and composition of local Cerrado ant assemblages is lacking in many cases. Here we present the results of a comprehensive ant inventory performed within a region of the Cerrado (in São Paulo state) where most of the original vegetation has already been lost and where few conservation units exist. We performed consecutive surveys of the ant fauna that forage on the ground in replicated plots established in open savanna (campo sujo), dense savanna (cerrado sensu stricto), and forest (cerradão). Our surveys, with an estimated sample coverage of 99.4%, revealed a total of 219 species of ants from 60 genera, of which 36.1% were found in all the three vegetation types and 29.7% in just one. Rarefied species richness did not differ between vegetation types, but species composition differed markedly, especially between the two savannas in one hand and the forest in the other. Several species (60.1% of the 128 species analyzed) were significant "indicator" species due to their strong association with a given vegetation type. Overall, our findings reinforce the idea that habitat heterogeneity enhances ant diversity and that the mosaic of vegetation types that characterizes the Cerrado biome is one of the main factors explaining the elevated number of species that can be found at relatively small scales.
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Despite the historical efforts to list and organize the taxonomic knowledge about the Brazilian ant fauna, the most diverse in the world, several gaps regarding species distribution data and sampling coverage persist. In an attempt to... more
Despite the historical efforts to list and organize the taxonomic knowledge about the Brazilian ant fauna, the most diverse in the world, several gaps regarding species distribution data and sampling coverage persist. In an attempt to fill some of these gaps, we here apply a scientometric approach to provide an updated overview of the ants of Brazil based on formal publications on ant diversity in the Brazilian territory. In the last 50 years, ant diversity studies in Brazil revealed 1130 species, corresponding to around 70% of the species known to occur in the country. The Brazilian biomes with the highest number of described species recorded were, respectively, the Amazon Forest (716 species), Atlantic Forest (657 species), Cerrado (389 species), Caatinga (185 species), Pantanal (143 species), and Pampa (86 species). Considering the number and frequency of unidentified species, the genera Azteca, Hypoponera, Pheidole, and Solenopsis represent the main knowledge frontiers regarding taxonomic resolution, with more than 80% of their records associated with morphospecies codes in diversity studies in Brazil. Moreover, around 7.5% of the papers presented inconsistences in their species lists regarding the validity of taxonomic names, and we found studies for which some taxa records are geographically implausible. Besides demonstrating the importance of ecological publications to the ant diversity knowledge in Brazil, our findings highlight a strong sampling bias in ant occurrence data in the country, with species records unevenly distributed across Brazilian biomes. In short, our results constitute valuable information for future projects on ant taxonomy and surveying in Brazilian natural areas.
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Monitoring restoration practices is an expensive process, but essential to verifying their success. One way to reduce sampling costs is using biodiversity indicators, a term used for a functional or taxonomic group that is in agreement... more
Monitoring restoration practices is an expensive process, but essential to verifying their success. One way to reduce sampling costs is using biodiversity indicators, a term used for a functional or taxonomic group that is in agreement with another group. The objective of this work was to evaluate the agreement between the richness and composition of regenerating plants, ants and other arthropods under the canopy of four tree species in a restoration area in the Atlantic Forest, Brazil, as well as to determine the relationship of biological communities with parameters environmental and spatial. It was found that environmental variables, often linked to the tree’s identity, are preponderant in determining the relationship between ants, other arthropods and regenerating plants. In addition, ants proved to be weak indicators of regenerating plants and other arthropods diversity and composition and this relationship was not guided by environmental and spatial variables. Thus, the results found here recommend caution when using ants as indicators of plant biodiversity and other arthropods in monitoring programs in the Atlantic Forest.
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We provide a list for the ants collected in the leaf litter, soil and vegetation of the Parque Estadual São Camilo, an important conservation unit of Atlantic Forest in Paraná, Brazil, and one of the oldest in the state. We report 108... more
We provide a list for the ants collected in the leaf litter, soil and vegetation of the Parque Estadual São Camilo, an important conservation unit of Atlantic Forest in Paraná, Brazil, and one of the oldest in the state. We report 108 species, of which eight species and two genera represent new records for Southern Brazil. Seven species are reported for the first time in Paraná. Our work is the first ant list for the western limit of the state, and reveals a surprisingly high number of species considering the extension of the study area. We highlight the importance of integrating different sampling techniques to explore ant diversity, and to conduct baseline studies in protected areas to document biodiversity.
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Acrostichum danaeifolium, a Neotropical fern, occurs preferentially in marshy areas or at the margins of lakes and mangroves. Microlepidoptera larvae burrow through the petioles of the fern, preferentially on the non-expanded leaves. The... more
Acrostichum danaeifolium, a Neotropical fern, occurs preferentially in marshy areas or at the margins of lakes and mangroves. Microlepidoptera larvae burrow through the petioles of the fern, preferentially on the non-expanded leaves. The galleries in the petiole create a new microhabitat, harboring a rich fauna of arthropods. The aim of the present study was to assess the richness of ants associated with its petiole. The study was conducted in a population of A. danaefolium from the Atlantic Forest in Rio de Janeiro state, Southeastern Brazil. Six collections were carried out every two months (2009-2010), three in the dry and three in the rainy season. The leaves were divided into three development stages: non-expanded leaves (NEL), expanded leaves (EL) and senescent leaves (SL). Seven leaves from each phase were randomly collected from seven individuals. A total of fifteen ant species were recorded. The species with the highest frequency and density in fern petioles were Camponotus crassus and Crematogaster curvispinosa. The highest ant richness and abundance was found in senescent leaves. The high number of ants found in the petioles of Acrostichum danaefolium qualifies it as a potential key species in the marshes and flooded areas where it occurs.
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The division of labor into sterile and reproductive castes in social insects is often reflected in marked morphological differences, which might have played an important role in the remarkable adaptive success of these organisms. Some ant... more
The division of labor into sterile and reproductive castes in social insects is often reflected in marked morphological differences, which might have played an important role in the remarkable adaptive success of these organisms. Some ant lineages have undergone further morphological differentiation, with the evolution of differences within the worker caste. In this study, we characterize morphological diversity in the head of Pheidole ants by comparing differences in size and shape among species and between minor and major worker subcastes. To this end, we integrate data from high-resolution images, geometric morphometrics, and phylogenetic comparative methods. Our results indicated differences in morphological variation of each subcaste with respect to their geographical distribution, with distinct morphological patterns and evolutionary routes related to head shape. Allometry was shown to be a crucial element for the differentiation within and between each subcaste, corroborating the role of size in their morphological evolution. Additionally, we observed that closely related species often diverge considerably in morphospace, whereas convergence in their morphospace occupation characterizes some West and East Hemisphere species. Finally, although multiple shifts in the rate of morphological evolution occurred during the Miocene, the timing and position of these shifts were independent of size and shape, suggesting that their evolution has been decoupled throughout Pheidole evolution.
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In our recent revision and reclassification of the ant subfamily Ectatomminae (Camacho et al. 2022), we proposed the new genus name Boltonia Camacho & Feitosa to accommodate a single species, B. microps Borgmeier 1957, transferred from... more
In our recent revision and reclassification of the ant subfamily Ectatomminae (Camacho et al. 2022), we proposed the new genus name Boltonia Camacho & Feitosa to accommodate a single species, B. microps Borgmeier 1957, transferred from the genus Heteroponera Mayr. At that time, we believed Boltonia to be an available name, but recent evidence led us to conclude that this is a preoccupied name and that our ant genus needs a replacement name.
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In 1887, Mayr described four species of the ant genus Strumigenys collected in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina: Strumigenys unidentata, Strumigenys subedentata, Strumigenys denticulata, and Strumigenys crassicornis. All of them were... more
In 1887, Mayr described four species of the ant genus Strumigenys collected in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina: Strumigenys unidentata, Strumigenys subedentata, Strumigenys denticulata, and Strumigenys crassicornis. All of them were described based on a series of one to several specimens, without designation of a holotype, as usual at that time. The same can be said about Strumigenys eggersi, described by Emery in 1890 based on specimens collected in Saint Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands), without designation of a holotype. In 1961, Brown designated a lectotype for S. unidentata and synonymized it under Strumigenys louisianae. However, the specimens belonging to the type series of the other four species remain as syntypes. Considering that these are four of the most frequently collected species of Strumigenys in the Neotropical region, in this work we provide lectotype designations and complete redescriptions for S. crassicornis, S. denticulata, S. eggersi, and S. subedentata to ensure the taxonomic stability of these names.
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Scientometric investigation and scientific production analysis are essential for science progress. Although a vast number of studies on Brazilian ant diversity have been carried out, a critical analysis of the advances in its scientific... more
Scientometric investigation and scientific production analysis are essential for science progress. Although a vast number of studies on Brazilian ant diversity have been carried out, a critical analysis of the advances in its scientific production is still missing. We compiled a comprehensive database on ant diversity papers carried out in the Brazilian territory. Our main research question is: what is the profile of ant diversity studies developed in Brazil? We sorted the studies according to the main terrestrial Brazilian biomes. We compiled 468 papers, which were published in 132 journals and encompassed a time range from 1970 to 2020. Most studies were carried out in Atlantic Forest (143), followed by Amazon Forest (111), Cerrado (106), Caatinga (38), Pantanal (14), and Pampa (4). In all biomes, ant samplings presented a much-aggregated distribution. Most studies had samplings carried out in all seasons in almost all biomes. The three most employed sampling techniques were pitfall traps, direct sampling, and attractive baits. The main subject of papers were ant assemblage diversity and ant fauna surveys. We discussed the implications of ant diversity study profiles regarding all aspects considered, the historical changes in these factors during the time range, and their possible influence on ant diversity paper publications, and provided suggestions for a more efficient use of time and financial resources for future research directions on ant diversity studies. Finally, we propose that our study can be replicated in other world regions, allowing for a comprehensive view on ant diversity research at a global scale.
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Uncovering the evolutionary history of the subfamilies Ectatomminae and Heteroponerinae, or ectaheteromorphs, is key to understanding a major branch of the ant tree of life. Despite their diversity and ecological importance, phylogenetic... more
Uncovering the evolutionary history of the subfamilies Ectatomminae and Heteroponerinae, or ectaheteromorphs, is key to understanding a major branch of the ant tree of life. Despite their diversity and ecological importance, phylogenetic relationships in the group have not been well explored. One particularly suitable tool for resolving phylogeny is the use of ultraconserved elements (UCEs), which have been shown to be ideal markers at a variety of evolutionary time scales. In the present study, we enriched and sequenced 2,127 UCEs from 135 specimens of ectaheteromorph ants and investigated phylogeny using a variety of model-based phylogenomic methods. Trees recovered from partitioned maximum-likelihood and species-tree analyses were well resolved and largely congruent. The results are consistent with an expanded concept of Ectatomminae that now includes the subfamily Heteroponerinae new synonym and its single tribe Heteroponerini new combination. Eleven monophyletic groups are recognized as genera: Acanthoponera, Alfaria status revived, Boltonia Camacho and Feitosa new genus, Ectatomma, Gnamptogenys, Heteroponera, Holcoponera status revived, Poneracantha status revived, Rhytidoponera, Stictoponera status revived, and Typhlomyrmex. The new phylogenetic framework and classification proposed here will shed light on the study of Ectatomminae taxonomy and systematics, as well as on the morphological evolution of the groups that it comprises.
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Ants, an ecologically successful and numerically dominant group of animals, play key ecological roles as soil engineers, predators, nutrient recyclers, and regulators of plant growth and reproduction in most terrestrial ecosystems.... more
Ants, an ecologically successful and numerically dominant group of animals, play key ecological roles as soil engineers, predators, nutrient recyclers, and regulators of plant growth and reproduction in most terrestrial ecosystems. Further, ants are widely used as bioindicators of the ecological impact of land use. We gathered information of ant species in the Atlantic Forest of South America. The ATLANTIC ANTS data set–which is part of the ATLANTIC SERIES data papers–is a compilation of ant records from collections (18,713 records), unpublished data (29,651 records), and published sources (106,910 records; 1059 references), including papers, theses, dissertations, and book chapters published from 1886 to 2020. In total, the data set contains 153,818 ant records from 7,636 study locations in the Atlantic Forest, representing 10 subfamilies, 99 genera, 1,114 ant species identified with updated taxonomic certainty, and 2,235 morphospecies codes. Our data set reflects the heterogeneity in ant records, which include ants sampled at the beginning of the taxonomic history of myrmecology (the nineteenth and twentieth centuries) and more recent ant surveys designed to address specific questions in ecology and biology. The data set can be used by researchers to develop strategies to deal with different macroecological and regional‐wide questions, focusing on assemblages, species occurrences and distribution patterns. Furthermore, the data can be used to assess the consequences of changes in land use in the Atlantic Forest on different ecological processes. No copyright restrictions apply to the use of this data set, but we request that authors cite this data paper when using these data in publications or teaching events.
This study provides a list of the ground-dwelling ant species in Nhecolândia, Pantanal, Mato Grosso Sul, Brazil. The Pantanal is the largest tropical wetland in the world and is currently under strong anthropic pressure. Ground-dwelling... more
This study provides a list of the ground-dwelling ant species in Nhecolândia, Pantanal, Mato Grosso Sul, Brazil. The Pantanal is the largest tropical wetland in the world and is currently under strong anthropic pressure. Ground-dwelling ants were collected in three sites: (1) a forest regeneration area; (2) a pasture area; and (3) an area of secondary native vegetation. In each site, 120 samples were collected using pitfall traps in the dry and rainy seasons of 2016. Additional samplings were performed with Winkler extractors (30 leaf-litter samples) and manually, also in dry and rainy seasons of 2016. In total, we collected 172 species, which, summed with the additional records from literature, raise the number of ant species recorded in Nhecolândia to 184 in 42 genera and nine subfamilies. Eleven species were recorded for the first time in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Also, the survey adds two new species records to Brazil. Besides contributing to the inventory of the ant species present in the Pantanal biome, the present study provides an important resource for future conservation plans for this threatened ecoregion.
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We revise the taxonomy of species of the ant genus Cephalotes occurring in Brazil. Sixty-four species are recognized, distributed in 14 species groups. Five species are described as new: Cephalotes gabicamacho new species, Cephalotes... more
We revise the taxonomy of species of the ant genus Cephalotes occurring in Brazil. Sixty-four species are recognized, distributed in 14 species groups. Five species are described as new: Cephalotes gabicamacho new species, Cephalotes marycorn new species, and Cephalotes monicaulyssea new species (angustus group); Cephalotes liviaprado new species (fiebrigi group); and Cephalotes mariadeandrade new species (pinelii group). The soldier and gyne of C. adolphi (angustus group), and the gyne and male of C. nilpiei (pinelii group) are described for the first time. Cephalotes marginatus is synonymized under C. atratus. The bruchi and the laminatus species groups are synonymized under fiebrigi and pusillus groups, respectively. The new species group manni is proposed, derived from the basalis species group. Distribution maps for each species in Brazil are provided. In addition, we provide an illustrated morphological glossary for the genus and illustrated identification keys for workers and soldiers for species groups and for all Brazilian species.
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The diversity of endotherms and ectotherms may be differently affected by ambient temperature and net primary productivity (NPP). Additionally, little is known about how these drivers affect the diversity of guilds of different trophic... more
The diversity of endotherms and ectotherms may be differently affected by ambient temperature and net primary productivity (NPP). Additionally, little is known about how these drivers affect the diversity of guilds of different trophic levels. We assessed the relative role of temperature and NPP in multitrophic guilds of ectothermic (arthropods: ants, ground beetles, spiders, and harvestmen) and endothermic (large mammals) animals along a tropical elevational gradient. We sampled arthropods at eight elevation belts and large mammals at 14 elevation belts in Atlantic rainforest (ranging from 600 to 2450 m.a.s.l.) of Itatiaia National Park, Southeast Brazil. Overall arthropod species richness was more associated with temperature than overall large-mammal species richness, while the latter was more associated with NPP. When separated into trophic guilds, we found that the species richness associated with NPP increased across arthropod trophic levels from herbivores to predators. Conversely, although NPP influenced large mammal herbivore species richness, its effects did not seem to accumulate across large-mammal trophic levels since the species richness of large-mammal omnivores was more associated with temperature and none of the variables we studied influenced large mammal predators. We suggest that thermal physiological differences between ectotherms and endotherms are responsible for the way in which arthropods and large mammals interact with or are constrained by the environment. Furthermore, the inconsistency regarding the role of temperature and NPP on species richness across multitrophic guilds of ectotherms and endotherms could indicate that thermal physiological differences might also interfere with energy use and flux in the food web.
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The state of Pará in northern Brazil is located entirely within the Amazon Basin and harbors a great diversity of landscape and vegetation types that support high levels of biodiversity. Here, we provide a comprehensive inventory of ant... more
The state of Pará in northern Brazil is located entirely within the Amazon Basin and harbors a great diversity of landscape and vegetation types that support high levels of biodiversity. Here, we provide a comprehensive inventory of ant species and their distribution in Pará. This regional list is based on an extensive review of species records from published and unpublished sources covering a period of 134 years (1886–2020) and includes the five most representative ant collections in Brazil. In total, we documented 12 subfamilies, 90 genera, and 753 ant species, including 97 species recorded for the first time in Pará and 12 species newly reported in Brazil. Sampling effort across the state is highly uneven, and most records may be associated with research areas near the state capital, mining areas, hydroelectric dams, and research field stations run by the state or universities. In addition, our results suggest a strong bias in ant collection in Pará in terms of proximity of sampled sites to access routes, such as roads and rivers. We also found that species records were highly unevenly distributed based on areas of endemism within the Amazon, vegetation type, and protected areas within the state. Ant surveys are still lacking from most protected areas of Pará, and further sampling is urgently needed in view of the current trend of expansion of major infrastructure projects and natural resource harvesting within protected areas of Pará. Our database represents an extremely valuable and rich source of information for further studies on ant biodiversity and conservation in the Amazon Basin.
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Amazonian rainforests, once thought to be pristine wilderness, are increasingly known to have been widely inhabited, modified, and managed prior to European arrival, by human populations with diverse cultural backgrounds. Amazonian Dark... more
Amazonian rainforests, once thought to be pristine wilderness, are increasingly known to have been widely inhabited, modified, and managed prior to European arrival, by human populations with diverse cultural backgrounds. Amazonian Dark Earths (ADEs) are fertile soils found throughout the Amazon Basin, created by pre-Columbian societies with sedentary habits. Much is known about the chemistry of these soils, yet their zoology has been neglected. Hence, we characterized soil fertility, macroinvertebrate communities, and their activity at nine archeological sites in three Amazonian regions in ADEs and adjacent reference soils under native forest (young and old) and agricultural systems. We found 673 morphospecies and, despite similar richness in ADEs (385 spp.) and reference soils (399 spp.), we identified a tenacious pre-Columbian footprint, with 49% of morphospecies found exclusively in ADEs. Termite and total macroinvertebrate abundance were higher in reference soils, while soil fertility and macroinvertebrate activity were higher in the ADEs, and associated with larger earthworm quantities and biomass. We show that ADE habitats have a unique pool of species, but that modern land use of ADEs decreases their populations, diversity, and contributions to soil functioning. These findings support the idea that humans created and sustained high-fertility ecosystems that persist today, altering biodiversity patterns in Amazonia.
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In the south of Brazil, grasslands are naturally widespread over two different biomes, the Pampa in the southernmost region and within the Atlantic Forest in the northern portions. The natural grasslands of the state of Paraná comprise a... more
In the south of Brazil, grasslands are naturally widespread over two different biomes, the Pampa in the southernmost region and within the Atlantic Forest in the northern portions. The natural grasslands of the state of Paraná comprise a very particular physiognomy composed of two distinct formations: the Campos Gerais and the grasslands of the southwest. The first is located in the edge of the second plateau of Paraná state, comprising a great diversity of environments. The grasslands of the southwest are more homogeneous, with a continuous herbaceous stratum dominating the landscape. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the patterns of species richness and composition of ants, an ecologically prominent group, along the natural grasslands of Paraná. We also intended to compare the faunal similarity between the two different grassland formations. For that, four different Conservation Unities were sampled along a latitudinal gradient. A remarkable total of 245 ant species was recorded, and the results indicate that species richness decreases as latitude increases along the grasslands of Paraná. There were clear differences in species composition between these two grasslands formations, given the significative number of endemic species in each of these two grassland formations. Ten species were recorded for the first time in the state of Paraná, of which three also for the first time in the Southern Region of Brazil. Overall, our study contributes to a better understanding about the diversity and composition of ant communities in subtropical grasslands.
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Ants use their mandibles for a wide variety of tasks related to substrate manipulation, brood transport, food processing, and colony defense. Due to constraints involved in colony upkeep, ants evolved a remarkable diversity of mandibular... more
Ants use their mandibles for a wide variety of tasks related to substrate manipulation, brood transport, food processing, and colony defense. Due to constraints involved in colony upkeep, ants evolved a remarkable diversity of mandibular forms, often related to specific roles such as specialized hunting and seed milling. Considering these varied functional demands, we focused on understanding how the mandible and head shape vary within and between Pheidole subcastes. Using x‐ray microtomography and 3D geometric morphometrics, we tested whether these structures are integrated and modular, and how ecological predictors influenced these features. Our results showed that mandible and head shape of majors and minor workers tend to vary from robust to slender, with some more complex changes related to the mandibular base. Additionally, we found that head and mandible shapes are characterized by a high degree of integration, but with little correlation with feeding and nesting habits. Our results suggest that a combination of structural (allometric) constraints and the behavioral flexibility conferred by subcaste dimorphism might largely buffer selective pressures that would otherwise lead to a fine‐tuning between ecological conditions and morphological adaptation.
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Tropical ants experience intense intra-and interspecific competition for food sources, which influences their activity pattern and foraging strategies. Even though different ant species can coexist through spatial and temporal niche... more
Tropical ants experience intense intra-and interspecific competition for food sources, which influences their activity pattern and foraging strategies. Even though different ant species can coexist through spatial and temporal niche partitioning, direct competition for food cannot be avoided. Recruitment communication is assumed to help colonies to monopolize and exploit food sources successfully, but this has rarely been tested under field conditions. We studied if recruitment communication helps colonies of the Neotropical ant Pachycondyla harpax to be more successful in a highly competitive tropical environment. Additionally, we explored if temporal and spatial niche differentiation helps focal colonies to avoid competition. Pachycondyla harpax competed with dozens of ant species for food. Mass-recruiting competitors were often successful in displacing P. harpax from food baits. However, when foragers of P. harpax were able to recruit nestmates they had a 4-times higher probability to keep access to the food baits. Colonies were unlikely to be displaced during our observations after a few ants arrived at the food source. Competition was more intense after sunset, but a disproportionate increase in activity after sunset allowed focal colonies to exploit food sources more successfully after sunset. Our results support the hypothesis that recruitment communication helps colonies to monopolize food sources by helping them to establish a critical mass of nestmates at large resources. This indicates that even species with a small colony size and a slow recruitment method, such as tandem running, benefit from recruitment communication in a competitive environment.
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A challenge for studies on the organization of ant assemblages in forest ecosystems is to disentangle the causal effects of species occurrences. The structural and functional attributes of trees can act as environmental filters for... more
A challenge for studies on the organization of ant assemblages in forest ecosystems is to disentangle the causal effects of species occurrences. The structural and functional attributes of trees can act as environmental filters for ground-dwelling ant species influencing resource availability and the microclimate. The biotic interactions, especially competition, can work together with plant characteristics influencing ant species occurrences. To test the importance of tree traits and species interactions on co-occurrence patterns of ants, we collected ground-dwelling ants, with pitfalls and litter sampling, beneath the canopies of four tree species during the rainy and dry seasons in a restored forest. We used five predictors (tree identity, crown size, trunk circumference, litter depth, and leaves density) to model the presence probabilities of ants. Hence, we applied habitat constrained null models in pairwise analyses to disentangle the causal effects of ants co-occurrences. The random pattern predominated in the assemblages, making up 96% of all possible species pairs combinations. Overall, 50% of the species pairs that showed nonrandomness in the ant occurrences were interpreted as resulting from environmental filters, 36% as negative associations and 14% as positive associations. Additionally, we found that the effects of season and the sampling technique on the ant assemblages were also important. We suggest that the ideas of the trees as templates and the paradigm of competition are both useful for understanding pairwise occurrence patterns in ant assemblages, and can be tested using tree traits as predictors in ant species distribution models for running constrained null models.
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The Brazilian savanna (Cerrado biome), now reduced to about 173,500 km 2 of its original two million km 2 range, is one of the most threatened biomes in the world. In the meridional limit of this biome is the Cerrado State Park (CSP),... more
The Brazilian savanna (Cerrado biome), now reduced to about 173,500 km 2 of its original two million km 2 range, is one of the most threatened biomes in the world. In the meridional limit of this biome is the Cerrado State Park (CSP), state of Paraná, Brazil, the only savanna conservation unit in Southern Brazil. This survey of the arboreal and ground-dwelling ants of the park obtained 136 species in 36 genera and eight subfamilies, an expressive diversity given the size, degree of isolation and location of the park. There was a high stratification of the ant community with a dominance of ground-dwelling species. Camponotus crispulus, Pheidole exigua, and Pheidole scapulata are new records for Southern Brazil. The ponerine genus Mayaponera and 13 species from several genera are recorded for the first time for the state of Paraná. The great number of ant species found and the presence of rarely collected elements of the Neotropical ant fauna indicate that this is one of the most diverse areas of savanna in Brazil. However, the CSP is severely threatened by anthropic activities, such as monocul-tures, cultivation of exotic plants, and livestock. Even more concerning is a recent new law approved by the government of Paraná that allows the touristic exploitation of reserves like the CSP by private companies. If an effective conservation effort to preserve the park area is not taken, we will certainly witness the extinction of the last assembly of ants from the Brazilian Cerrado in Southern Brazil, along with other elements of the biodiversity associated with the CSP.
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The ant genus Pheidole is the most species-rich lineage of ants in the world and one of the dominant organisms in tropical regions. However, the knowledge of Pheidole diversity in the southern half of the Neotropical Region is... more
The ant genus Pheidole is the most species-rich lineage of ants in the world and one of the dominant organisms in tropical regions. However, the knowledge of Pheidole diversity in the southern half of the Neotropical Region is fragmentary. Here, we offer contributions to the Pheidole taxonomy considering the species that occur in the grassland formations of South Brazil. The following species are revived from synonymy: P. idiota Santschi rev. stat., P. obscurior Forel rev. stat., P. paranana Santschi stat. rev. et n. stat. and P. strobeli Emery rev. stat. The following synonyms are proposed: P. idiota (= P. laticornis Wilson n. syn.), P. obscurior (= P. partita Mayr n. syn., = P. incisa evoluta Borgmeier n. syn.) and P. strobeli (= P. rufipilis divexa Forel n. syn., = P. nitidula daguerrei Santschi n. syn., = P. perversa Forel n. syn., = P. perversa richteri Forel n. syn., = P. strobeli misera Santschi n. syn.). Finally, six new species are described: P. abakytan n. sp., P. abaticanga n. sp., P. cangussu n. sp., P. curupira n. sp., P. mapinguari n. sp., and P. obapara n. sp.
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Almost three centuries since Linnaeus introduced the system of binomial classification, thousands of species new to science are still described every year. Any research dealing with living organisms is intrinsically dependent on taxonomy... more
Almost three centuries since Linnaeus introduced the system of binomial classification, thousands of species new to science are still described every year. Any research dealing with living organisms is intrinsically dependent on taxonomy for reproducibility, since misidentifications may affect conclusions. As such, published
taxonomic results should not be seen as obscure specialized papers, but instead as primers for taxon recognition that allow researchers to correctly identify the organisms they study. Yet recent controversies around the low impact factors of taxonomic journals highlight the need for more accurate measurement of the intellectual contribution of taxonomy5. Journals that still publish taxonomic contributions are being downgraded or threatened with exclusion from current impact evaluation metrics due to their self-citation rates. But inevitably, as the numbers of both active taxonomists and journals publishing taxonomy decline, self-citation becomes more frequent both for journals and authors, exacerbating the issue and devaluing taxonomic work to a point where it might become unsustainable as an academic line of research, losing out in the competition for funding and jobs. Setting aside this disciplinary concern, the decreasing number of journals publishing taxonomy and the long-standing practice of not citing taxonomic work correctly in other biological research result in worrying underestimation of the impact that taxonomy has in every field of biology — this is especially concerning in a current climate of biodiversity decline, mass extinction and a pollination crisis. In non-taxonomic papers, although it is generally recommended that author and year be given at first mention of a species name, the reference is not usually included in the literature cited. But in some of the most high-profile non-taxonomic journals, the inclusion of full taxonomic references would increase the manuscript by no more than one and a half references per printed page. For those papers in which vast numbers of taxonomic works require citation (for example, studies mentioning thousands of species), an alternative method for referencing the relevant papers would be to link either by DOI or as discrete metafiles that would be checked by citation tracking databases (for example, Scopus, SciELO and Web of Science) to ensure that the references are incorporated in impact metrics. This solution would require buy-in from both journals, by providing discrete references metafiles, and citation database developers and managers, by including these metafiles in the citation tracking process. We, and the 1,312 signatories, urge all researchers to consider these solutions and propose additional measures in order to ensure appropriate recognition of the science of taxonomy.
taxonomic results should not be seen as obscure specialized papers, but instead as primers for taxon recognition that allow researchers to correctly identify the organisms they study. Yet recent controversies around the low impact factors of taxonomic journals highlight the need for more accurate measurement of the intellectual contribution of taxonomy5. Journals that still publish taxonomic contributions are being downgraded or threatened with exclusion from current impact evaluation metrics due to their self-citation rates. But inevitably, as the numbers of both active taxonomists and journals publishing taxonomy decline, self-citation becomes more frequent both for journals and authors, exacerbating the issue and devaluing taxonomic work to a point where it might become unsustainable as an academic line of research, losing out in the competition for funding and jobs. Setting aside this disciplinary concern, the decreasing number of journals publishing taxonomy and the long-standing practice of not citing taxonomic work correctly in other biological research result in worrying underestimation of the impact that taxonomy has in every field of biology — this is especially concerning in a current climate of biodiversity decline, mass extinction and a pollination crisis. In non-taxonomic papers, although it is generally recommended that author and year be given at first mention of a species name, the reference is not usually included in the literature cited. But in some of the most high-profile non-taxonomic journals, the inclusion of full taxonomic references would increase the manuscript by no more than one and a half references per printed page. For those papers in which vast numbers of taxonomic works require citation (for example, studies mentioning thousands of species), an alternative method for referencing the relevant papers would be to link either by DOI or as discrete metafiles that would be checked by citation tracking databases (for example, Scopus, SciELO and Web of Science) to ensure that the references are incorporated in impact metrics. This solution would require buy-in from both journals, by providing discrete references metafiles, and citation database developers and managers, by including these metafiles in the citation tracking process. We, and the 1,312 signatories, urge all researchers to consider these solutions and propose additional measures in order to ensure appropriate recognition of the science of taxonomy.
Research Interests:
Habitat loss is a leading cause of extinctions, which may occur even before species are recorded or formally described. On the other hand, limitations in species distribution data and sampling biases can hamper inferences about patterns... more
Habitat loss is a leading cause of extinctions, which may occur even before species are recorded or formally described. On the other hand, limitations in species distribution data and sampling biases can hamper inferences about patterns of species richness that form the basis of conservation strategies. Insects, despite their crucial roles in terrestrial ecosystems, are still largely neglected when dealing with biological inventories. Among insects, ants are of unique importance because of their species richness, widespread distribution, and due to their key ecosystem functions such as seed dispersal, soil nutrient cycling, predation, and biological control. In this study, we prioritize different Brazilian biomes and ecoregions for new ant surveys based on information on the distribution of occurrence records and two estimates of habitat loss for the period between 2000 and 2016. We compiled nearly 8000 ant occurrence records, including a total of 1170 species. The Caatinga was the biome showing the greatest urgency for new inventories, whereas the Atlantic Forest had the lowest urgency. However , there were considerable differences of priority between ecoregions belonging to each biome, thus underscoring the need to pay special attention to these geographical units and their characteristic associated with ant species. The prioritiza-tion of poorly studied sites with an imminent risk of habitat loss can be a valuable starting point for filling knowledge gaps and can help in formulating new strategies of conservation. The dataset provided here may also be useful in studies on the distribution of ant diversity in Brazil.
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The ant genus Prionopelta Mayr, 1866 is revised for the Neotropics. Morphological traits combined with geographical data led to the recognition of eight species, four of them described here as new: Prionopelta dubia sp. n., Prionopelta... more
The ant genus Prionopelta Mayr, 1866 is revised for the Neotropics. Morphological traits combined with geographical data led to the recognition of eight species, four of them described here as new: Prionopelta dubia sp. n., Prionopelta menininha sp. n., Prionopelta minuta sp. n., and Prionopelta tapatia sp. n. Prionopelta marthae Forel, 1909 is proposed as a new junior synonym of Prionopelta antillana Forel, 1909. External morphological descriptions of the worker caste for all species are provided, as well as for some of the males and queens, mostly described here for the first time. Identification keys for all known castes, distribution maps and high-resolution illustrations are supplied for all species.
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Apresentamos aqui um breve histórico da Coleção Entomológica Padre Jesus Santiago Moure da Universidade Federal do Paraná (DZUP), Curitiba, Brasil, com ênfase na origem e na representatividade de seu recém-expandido acervo mirmecológico.... more
Apresentamos aqui um breve histórico da Coleção Entomológica Padre Jesus Santiago Moure da Universidade Federal do Paraná (DZUP), Curitiba, Brasil, com ênfase na origem e na representatividade de seu recém-expandido acervo mirmecológico. Listamos os principais eventos de expansão, as instalações, os grupos de pesquisa associados e as instituições colaboradoras, essenciais para o estabelecimento do acervo de formigas da DZUP. Finalmente, destacamos o exponencial crescimento deste acervo mirmecológico, que passou de quatro gavetas entomológicas e cerca de 1.000 exemplares depositados, em 2013, para, atualmente, cerca de 360 gavetas e 180.000 exemplares.
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Piauí, a Brazilian Northeast state, has been considered one of the most important regions for the presence of new taxa in ants globally, especially considering the ecosystems' diversity formed by the transition of the three biomes in the... more
Piauí, a Brazilian Northeast state, has been considered one of the most important regions for the presence of new taxa in ants globally, especially considering the ecosystems' diversity formed by the transition of the three biomes in the state, the Cerrado, Caatinga and the Atlantic Forest. Despite the recent increase in studies of ant diversity in the Neotropical region, Piauí still represents a major knowledge gap regarding its ant fauna. Therefore, this study aimed to increase the knowledge about the ant fauna of the state by generating a list of species with data obtained from the literature, online repositories and collection expeditions to the Serra da Capivara and Serra das Confusões National Parks. A total of 152 species in 52 genera and nine subfamilies were registered from 24 localities in Piauí. Fifty-eight out the 152 species recorded represent new records for the state, eight are new records for the Brazilian Northeast Region, and one consists of a new record for the country. Eleven species are here recognized as new for science. Considering the field expeditions carried out here, this work represents the first standardized study for the ant fauna of Piauí. The species list presented considerably exceeds the current number of species registered for the state so far. From the present 48 records, the number of species for Piauí raises to more than 150 with a tendency to increase with the accomplishment of future field endeavors and advances in the study of the local ants.
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This study aimed to raise and address nomenclatural issues surrounding Neotropical species in the genus Gnamptogenys, in addition to describing new species accumulated in myrmecological collections. New and reinstated names recognized... more
This study aimed to raise and address nomenclatural issues surrounding Neotropical species in the genus Gnamptogenys, in addition to describing new species accumulated in myrmecological collections. New and reinstated names recognized here include G. pernambucana (Santschi) sp. rev., stat.n., G. lenis sp. n., G. latistriata sp. n., and G. avus sp. n. The queen and intercaste of G. lavra Lattke and the queen of G. pernambucana are described for the first time. For these five species we provide complete descriptions and diagnoses, comments on taxonomy and natural history, distribution data, and high-resolution images, including the first images of G. lavra. An updated identification key for all the Neotropical species of Gnamptogenys is also provided, including the new and revived species as well as G. aspera Morgan and G. pilosa Lattke, not present in previous keys for the genus.
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Several studies have characterized and delimited subterranean ant assemblages. Soil extraction, one of the methods employed to access this fauna, employs the removal of monoliths. One of the most widely used methods for the extraction of... more
Several studies have characterized and delimited subterranean ant assemblages. Soil extraction, one of the methods employed to access this fauna, employs the removal of monoliths. One of the most widely used methods for the extraction of soil sampling is called TSBF (developed by the Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Programme). This method provides relevant data about the species associated with the soil. In the present study we characterized assemblages of subterranean ants using the TSBF method in different subtropical areas of the Neotropics. We considered two sampling designs in different localities. The first design resulted in 315 TSBF samples obtained from layers at distinct depths. The second design resulted in 270 TSBF samples and 270 epigaeic pitfall trap samples. This material was used to delimit the species that occur exclusively in the subterranean stratum (TSBF) and that are not found on the soil surface. A total of 281 species were recorded. Of these, 57 can be considered subterranean, based on their occurrence in subterranean strata. We also verified that the highest occurrence of ants was in the first 10 cm of soil depth. Due to the importance of using methods that efficiently extract the subterranean ant fauna in studies, we suggest the TSBF method should be used to sample ants or to associate this method with epigaeic pitfall traps to delimit strictly subterranean assemblages in specific community stratification studies.
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When aiming to assess the effects of elevation on animal diversity, many studies have been carried out in different vegetation types occurring across elevational gradients. Thus, it remains unclear if any changes observed in species... more
When aiming to assess the effects of elevation on animal diversity, many studies have been carried out in different vegetation types occurring across elevational gradients. Thus, it remains unclear if any changes observed in species richness are caused by factors directly associated with elevation or are caused by vegetation change across the gradient. Here, we disentangled the effects of elevation from changes in vegetation by assessing ant diversity patterns along an elevational gradient. We analyzed patterns of ant diversity utilizing two different sampling approaches across the elevational gradient: (1) a standardized sampling including only forest formations and (2) a non-standardized sampling including forest (low elevational bands) and grasslands (high elevational bands). We sampled ants at eight elevational bands of Atlantic Forest in Brazil, and the highest three bands were sampled at both forest and grassland habitat. We found that the two approaches produce contrasting patterns of alpha and beta diversity, but the same pattern of gamma diversity. However, in the non-standardized sampling approach, the regression analysis produced a reduced explanation of the species richness gradient and a decrease in the elevational effect size. Different patterns found in the two approaches could be due to distinct environmental conditions in these habitats. In conclusion, our results highlight the potential bias of non-standardizing vegetation type across elevational gradients when assessing elevational patterns of species diversity.
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We provide here a checklist of the ants of French Guiana, an overseas department of France situated in northern South America, with a very low human population density and predominantly covered by old-growth tropical rainforests. Based on... more
We provide here a checklist of the ants of French Guiana, an overseas department of France situated in northern South America, with a very low human population density and predominantly covered by old-growth tropical rainforests. Based on 165 scientific papers, specimens deposited in collections, and unpublished surveys, a total of 659 valid species and subspecies from 84 genera and 12 subfamilies is presented. Although far from complete, these numbers represent approximately 10% of the ant diversity known to occur in the Neotropical realm. Additionally, three ant genera and 119 species are reported for the first time for French Guiana. Finally, five species are recognized as erroneous records for the department in the literature. This checklist significantly expands the basic knowledge of the ants in the Guiana Shield, one of the world’s most important biodiversity hotspots.
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Morphological studies of insects can help us to understand the concomitant or sequential functionality of complex structures and may be used to hypothetize distinct levels of phylogenetic relationship among groups. Traditional... more
Morphological studies of insects can help us to understand the concomitant or sequential functionality of complex structures and may be used to hypothetize distinct levels of phylogenetic relationship among groups. Traditional morphological works, generally, have encompassed a set of elements, including descriptions of structures and their respective conditions, literature references and images, all combined in a single document. Fast forward to the digital era, it is now possible to release this information simultaneously but also independently as data sets linked to the original publication in an external environment. In order to link data from various fields of knowledge, disseminating morphological information in an open environment, it is important to use tools that enhance interoperability. For example, semantic annotations facilitate the dissemination and retrieval of phenotypic data in digital environments. The integration of semantic (i.e. web-based) components with anatomic treatments can be used to generate a traditional description in natural language along with a set of semantic annotations. The ant genus Strumigenys currently comprises about 840 described species distributed worldwide. In the Neotropical region, almost 200 species are currently known, but it is possible that much of the species' diversity there remains unexplored and undescribed. The morphological diversity in the genus is high, reflecting an extreme generic reclassification that occurred in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Here we define the anatomical concepts in this highly diverse group of ants using semantic annotations to enrich the anatomical ontologies available online, focussing on the definition of terms through sub-jacent conceptualization.
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The ponerine ant genus Centromyrmex is recorded for the first time in French Guiana. The specimens reported here were collected by the SEAG (Société Entomologique Antilles-Guyane) team in the commune of Saül, French Guiana. The ants were... more
The ponerine ant genus Centromyrmex is recorded for the first time in French Guiana. The specimens reported here were collected by the SEAG (Société Entomologique Antilles-Guyane) team in the commune of Saül, French Guiana. The ants were collected in a region of Amazon Forest with flight interception traps. Two out of the three species currently recognized for the genus in South America were here recorded in French Guiana, Centromyrmex alfaroi and Centromyrmex gigas. In total, 24 specimens were collected, all represented by alate queens. This record expands the knowledge about the distribution of this rarely collected genus and reinforces the importance of alternative sampling techniques for collecting cryptobiotic ants and unknown alate forms.
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The state of Maranhão, located in northeastern Brazil, comprises three biomes: Amazonian, Caatinga, and the Cerrado. To date, 99 ant species have been recorded in the literature from the state. In the present work, we provide for the... more
The state of Maranhão, located in northeastern Brazil, comprises three biomes: Amazonian, Caatinga, and the Cerrado. To date, 99 ant species have been recorded in the literature from the state. In the present work, we provide for the first time a profile of the ant fauna in the state based on data from the historical literature and Brazilian institutional collections. The updated records on ant diversity for the state of Maranhão revealed a total of 279 species, belonging to 71 genera and 10 subfamilies. In total, 180 species are recorded for the first time in the state, of which four species recorded for the first time in Brazil. In summary, apart from documenting the ant fauna of the region, these results provide a basis for further studies and may contribute to future conservation efforts for the biomes present in this complex landscape.
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Pheidole comprises approximately 1,000 extant species distributed worldwide, being particularly diverse in the New World. In addition to its high diversity and ecological prevalence, the genus is also characterized by the predominantly... more
Pheidole comprises approximately 1,000 extant species distributed worldwide, being particularly diverse in the New World. In addition to its high diversity and ecological prevalence, the genus is also characterized by the predominantly intraspecific dimorphism, with major and minor workers. Currently, five fossil species are known, all of which are represented only by minor workers. A new species, †Pheidole anticua sp. nov., is described from Dominican amber, based on a major worker. Additionally, the identity of the currently known fossil species in Pheidole is discussed and †P. cordata from Baltic amber is considered as incertae sedis, resulting in no Pheidole species currently recognized for Baltic amber
We revise the taxonomy of the ant genus Probolomyrmex for the Neotropical region. Eight species are recognized, four of them already known: P. boliviensis, P. brujitae, P. guanacastensis, and P. petiolatus. Four new species are described:... more
We revise the taxonomy of the ant genus Probolomyrmex for the Neotropical region. Eight species are recognized, four of them already known: P. boliviensis, P. brujitae, P. guanacastensis, and P. petiolatus. Four new species are described: P. cegua sp. n., P. dentinodis sp. n., P. kelleri sp. n. and P. lamellatus sp. n. We present complete descriptions and redescriptions for all the species, including diagnoses, comments on the taxonomic history and biology, high-quality images, and scanning electron microscope micrographs for diagnostic anatomic structures. In addition, distribution maps and an illustrated identification key are provided.
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Galls are neoformed plant structures created by cell hyperplasia and hypertrophy induced by a number of organisms, especially insects. After adult insects hatch, senescent galls may remain on the host plant and be occupied by a succession... more
Galls are neoformed plant structures created by cell hyperplasia and hypertrophy induced by a number of organisms, especially insects. After adult insects hatch, senescent galls may remain on the host plant and be occupied by a succession of fauna, the most important and dominant being ants. This study aimed at characterizing the ant fauna successor of stem galls induced by microlepidoptera in Microgramma squamulosa (Kaulf.) de la Sota (Polypodiaceae). Four collections were carried out in the municipality of Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. The galls were packed in plastic bags and taken to the laboratory. Ants were euthanized and conserved in 70 • GL alcohol and later identified. A total of 49 stem galls were collected and analyzed, 15 containing microlepidoptera galler larvae, one a parasitoid wasp and 33 without the microlepidoptera or parasitoid (67%). Twelve of these galls (39%) contained ants. Six ant species were recorded (Camponotus crassus, Crematogaster curvispinosa, Crematogaster sericea, Procryp-tocerus sampaioi, Tapinoma atriceps, and Wasmannia auropunctata), all native to Brazil. Ant occupation in M. squamulosa seems to be associated with senescent galls due to hatching of the galler insect, which leaves a hole that allows ants to colonize it, in other words, an opportunistic domatia. Senescent galls resulting from the death of galler insects do not seem to facilitate ant occupation.
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Ants in the subtribe Attina belong to a monophyletic group, exclusive to the New World, that contains approximately 250 described species. All attine ants have a mutualistic relationship with the fungus they cultivate as food source. The... more
Ants in the subtribe Attina belong to a monophyletic group, exclusive to the New World, that contains approximately 250 described species. All attine ants have a mutualistic relationship with the fungus they cultivate as food source. The present study provides a natural history and ecological account of five species of fungus-farming ants in the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest: Mycocepurus smithii, Mycetarotes parallelus, Mycetophylax morschi, Sericomyrmex parvulus, and Sericomyrmex saussurei. Specifically, we investigated nesting and foraging behavior and daily activity rhythms, and identified the substrates collected for fungiculture. Nests of all five ant species studied consist of chambers excavated in the soil, with variation on external appearance from inconspicuous holes in the ground to entrances surrounded by mounds of excavated soil pellets. S. saussurei was mainly nocturnal, M. morschi was active all day, and the other species presented diurnal activity. All species foraged exclusively on the ground and near their nests. All five species collected substrates of animal origin (mainly arthropod feces) and vegetable matter on which to cultivate their fungus gardens. Data on basic biological features of these ants, which represent phylogenetically diverse lineages, contribute to a better understanding of their mutualistic relationships with their fungal symbionts and of the evolutionary processes that produced the derived characteristics in the subtribe Attina. Additionally, this study adds to our knowledge of the natural history of fungus-farming ants in Atlantic rainforest and increases our understanding of their roles in this threatened biome.
Research Interests:
The fact that different phylogenomic data sets can lead to highly supported but in- consistent results suggest that conflict among gene trees in real data sets could be severe. We provide here a detailed exploration of gene tree space to... more
The fact that different phylogenomic data sets can lead to highly supported but in- consistent results suggest that conflict among gene trees in real data sets could be severe. We provide here a detailed exploration of gene tree space to investigate the relationships in Hymenoptera based on data obtained by Johnson et al. (Current Biology, 2013, 23, 2058), in which ants and Apoidea (bees and spheciform wasps) were recovered as sister groups, contradicting previous studies. We found high levels of topological variation among gene trees, several of them disagreeing with previ- ously published hypotheses. To profile the dynamics of emerging support versus conflicting signal in combined analysis of data, we employed a novel method based on the incremental addition of randomized data to coalescence‐based phylogenetic inference. Although the monophyly of Aculeata and of Formicidae were consistently recovered using as little as 6.5% of the 308 available markers, signal for the Formicidae + Apoidea clade prevailed only after more than 50% of the loci were sampled. Still, non‐negligible support for alternative hypotheses remained until all genes were added to the analysis. Our results suggest that phylogenetic conflict is rather pervasive and not scattered as noise across individual gene trees because alter- native topologies were recovered not from a specific subset, but from several random combinations of loci. Thus, even though phylogenetic signal recovered from full gene data sets was already dominant in much smaller ensembles, large amounts of data may be indeed necessary to overcome phylogenetic conflict.
Research Interests:
As formigas constituem um dos grupos de insetos mais comuns e melhor estudados quanto à sua biologia e classificação. Com sua origem estimada em cerca de 120 milhões de anos, as formigas tornaram-se o mais especioso e ecologicamente... more
As formigas constituem um dos grupos de insetos mais comuns e melhor estudados quanto à sua biologia e classificação. Com sua origem estimada em cerca de 120 milhões de anos, as formigas tornaram-se o mais especioso e ecologicamente diverso grupo de insetos sociais do planeta. Ao lado dos cupins, as formigas representam cerca de 2% das espécies de insetos conhecidas pela ciência até hoje, mas compreendem mais de 50% da biomassa de insetos nas regiões tropicais do mundo.
O Brasil detém a maior diversidade de formigas do mundo, com cerca de 1.500 espécies. Contudo, o conhecimento a respeito das espécies é bastante desigual entre as regiões do país. Embora abrigue um dos mais tradicionais e renomados grupos de entomólogos do Brasil, o estado do Paraná era até recentemente considerado uma das lacunas de conhecimento sobre formigas no país, por conta da ausência histórica de mirmecólogos estabelecidos no estado. Este cenário começou a se alterar nos últimos anos com o estabelecimento de um grupo de pesquisa sobre taxonomia e diversidade de formigas no Departamento de Zoologia da Universidade Federal do Paraná.
Como esperado, a eventual escassez de informações sobre as formigas do Paraná se reflete no conhecimento a respeito das espécies que ocorrem no município de Curitiba. Até a presente data, os registros para formigas no município disponíveis em bancos de dados abertos não somavam mais de 15 espécies. Contudo, com base no trabalho recente dos mirmecólogos no Paraná, cujos exemplares testemunho encontram-se depositados na Coleção Entomológica Padre Jesus Santiago Moure-UFPR, elevamos aqui este número para 68 espécies em 31 gêneros e oito subfamílias de formigas. Destas espécies, três são exóticas e ocupam áreas de maior perturbação no município. Nenhuma espécie nativa está presente na lista das espécies ameaçadas no país. Este números, embora expressivos, são sabidamente incipientes e novas pesquisas na região irão certamente elevar o número de espécies conhecidas para Curitiba em um futuro próximo.
O Brasil detém a maior diversidade de formigas do mundo, com cerca de 1.500 espécies. Contudo, o conhecimento a respeito das espécies é bastante desigual entre as regiões do país. Embora abrigue um dos mais tradicionais e renomados grupos de entomólogos do Brasil, o estado do Paraná era até recentemente considerado uma das lacunas de conhecimento sobre formigas no país, por conta da ausência histórica de mirmecólogos estabelecidos no estado. Este cenário começou a se alterar nos últimos anos com o estabelecimento de um grupo de pesquisa sobre taxonomia e diversidade de formigas no Departamento de Zoologia da Universidade Federal do Paraná.
Como esperado, a eventual escassez de informações sobre as formigas do Paraná se reflete no conhecimento a respeito das espécies que ocorrem no município de Curitiba. Até a presente data, os registros para formigas no município disponíveis em bancos de dados abertos não somavam mais de 15 espécies. Contudo, com base no trabalho recente dos mirmecólogos no Paraná, cujos exemplares testemunho encontram-se depositados na Coleção Entomológica Padre Jesus Santiago Moure-UFPR, elevamos aqui este número para 68 espécies em 31 gêneros e oito subfamílias de formigas. Destas espécies, três são exóticas e ocupam áreas de maior perturbação no município. Nenhuma espécie nativa está presente na lista das espécies ameaçadas no país. Este números, embora expressivos, são sabidamente incipientes e novas pesquisas na região irão certamente elevar o número de espécies conhecidas para Curitiba em um futuro próximo.
Research Interests:
We revised the literature on ant records in the Pernambuco Endemism Center – the Biogeographical Sub-Region Pernambuco in the Atlantic Forest – to synthesize the information regarding the diversity and distribution of ants in this... more
We revised the literature on ant records in the Pernambuco Endemism Center – the Biogeographical Sub-Region Pernambuco in the Atlantic Forest – to synthesize the information regarding the diversity and distribution of ants in this important endemism area of the biome. We gathered 3769 ant records, encompassing over 10 subfamilies, 71 genera, and 247 nominal species. We further provide up-to-date information regarding the state of knowledge, distribution gaps, and prospects for ant diversity in this key region for the maintenance of biodiversity of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.
Research Interests:
Despite the outstanding diversity and ecological relevance of social insects in most terrestrial ecosystems, current knowledge of these insects in the Atlantic Forest is still somewhat dispersed in literature. In this chapter, we offer an... more
Despite the outstanding diversity and ecological relevance of social insects in most terrestrial ecosystems, current knowledge of these insects in the Atlantic Forest is still somewhat dispersed in literature. In this chapter, we offer an overview covering the origin, evolution, diversity, functional composition, and distribution of all the eusocial species of ants, bees, wasps (Hymenoptera), and termites (Blattaria, Isoptera) known to occur in the Atlantic Forest. We compiled a database consisting of 1401 species distributed in 189 genera of the two insect orders assessed here. A total of 1250 species of social hymenopterans and 151 species of termites were here recorded for the Atlantic Forest. Additionally, we update the information regarding the state of knowledge, diversity gaps, and prospects for the eusocial insects of the Atlantic Forest. Considering the impressive richness presented in this compilation and the crucial role of social insects in the main ecological processes on the Atlantic rainforest landscape, it became urgent to target those organisms in conservation actions and research. A thoughtful study on current, past, and future species distribution of social insects in the Atlantic Forest could indicate.
Research Interests:
Subfamily Ectatomminae comprising the tribes Ectatommini (Ectatomma, Gnamptogenys and Rhytidoponera), Heteroponerini (Acanthoponera y Heteroponera), Typhlomyrmecini (Typhlomyrmex) and Aulacopone distributed in the Neotropics, Nearctic,... more
Subfamily Ectatomminae comprising the tribes Ectatommini (Ectatomma, Gnamptogenys and Rhytidoponera), Heteroponerini (Acanthoponera y Heteroponera), Typhlomyrmecini (Typhlomyrmex) and Aulacopone distributed in the Neotropics, Nearctic, Indo-Malaysian and Australian regions, being absent only in the African continent. Ectatomminae is part of the most common subfamilies in the Neotropics, generally nesting in soil or in rotting wood, rarely nesting on trees. Most species are predators, although also there have been cases of omnivory. Colombia and Neotropics are well represented by most of the genus of Ectatomminae except by Aulacopone and Rhytidoponera. In this chapter taxonomic keys and information about the distribution of species of the subfamily in Colombia are presented here.
Research Interests:
Coleções biológicas desempenham um papel fundamental no estudo dos seres vivos. Quando bem organizados, os dados disponíveis em coleções fornecem informações essenciais para estudos em diversas áreas do conhecimento. Entre estas,... more
Coleções biológicas desempenham um papel fundamental no estudo dos seres vivos. Quando bem organizados, os dados disponíveis em coleções fornecem informações essenciais para estudos em diversas áreas do conhecimento. Entre estas, incluem-se aquelas diretamente relacionadas ao bem-estar humano. Formigas urbanas são organismos de interesse prioritário no que diz respeito à sua importância econômica e sanitária. Neste sentido, coleções mirmecológicas representativas de faunas urbanas são uma ferramenta de grande importância para a compreensão dos fatores envolvidos na relação destes insetos com os seres humanos. Neste capítulo, abordaremos a importância da taxonomia e das coleções científicas, aliadas a boas práticas de curadoria, para o aumento da compreensão dos mecanismos de dispersão e estratégias reprodutivas de formigas urbanas.
Research Interests:
This chapter examines what are the main factors that currently affect the conservation of poneromorphs in general, particularly species those species that are common in tropical forests. We also seek to discuss the reasons that cause some... more
This chapter examines what are the main factors that currently affect the conservation of poneromorphs in general, particularly species those species that are common in tropical forests. We also seek to discuss the reasons that cause some of these ants to become endangered, In the recently completed national process that evaluated the state of fauna conservation by the Brazilian Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBIO), 13 ants entered the national list of threatened species (ICMBio Decret 444/2014), among the 1173 species of organisms that fall into this category in Brazil. Regarding the ants, the threat comes mainly from habitat loss, as exemplified by: the Amblyoponinae - Stigmatomma cleae Delabie, 2002; the Ectatomminae - Gnamptogenys wilsoni Lattke, 2007; and two Ponerinae - Anochetus oriens Kempf, 1964 and Dinoponera lucida Emery, 1901. Parallel to conservation issues, we examine the case of poneromorphs as agents of biological invasions, a phenomenon that has drawn the attention of conservationists over the past 30 years. More than a hundred species of invasive ants are currently recorded on the planet, but at this time poneromorphs appear as relatively marginal in this process. Finally, we analyze through the example of Dinoponera lucida, the possible consequences of climate change on this ant in Brazil.
Research Interests:
With about 13,000 species described worldwide, ants are the most speciose and ecologically diverse group of social insects. Brazil, with its six biomes distributed across an impressive 8,500,000 km² of territory, is home to the greatest... more
With about 13,000 species described worldwide, ants are the most speciose and ecologically diverse group of social insects. Brazil, with its six biomes distributed across an impressive 8,500,000 km² of territory, is home to the greatest diversity of ant genera and the second highest ant species diversity in the world. Although these data are impressive, knowledge about ant diversity in Brazil is still far from complete. When comparing the level of taxonomic knowledge among the Formicidae taxa that occur in Brazil, poneromorph subfamilies are at a more advanced stage than the others, especially when compared to the most diverse genera in Formicinae and Myrmicinae. In this chapter, a synoptic list of species of poneromorph ants occurring in Brazil is presented.
Research Interests:
The subfamily Proceratiinae comprises three ant genera in two tribes: Discothyrea and Proceratium in the Proceratiini, and Probolomyrmex as the only member of the Probolomyrmecini. The subfamily is present in all regions of the world,... more
The subfamily Proceratiinae comprises three ant genera in two tribes: Discothyrea and Proceratium in the Proceratiini, and Probolomyrmex as the only member of the Probolomyrmecini. The subfamily is present in all regions of the world, especially in the tropics, where most of its 140 species occur. In the New World, Proceratiinae contains around 40 species distributed from southern Canada to Argentina. In Brazil, the three genera of the subfamily are represented by only six species; three species of Probolomyrmex, two of Discothyrea and a single species of Proceratium. Proceratiinae can be morphologically recognized by the following combination of characters: size relatively small; antennal insertions totally or partially exposed; eyes strongly reduced to absent; promesonotal suture fused or absent; tarsal claws of forelegs simple, never pectinate nor possessing preapical projections; petiole without laterotergites; and jugal lobe absent in the forewings. Although the position of Proceratiinae within the poneroid subfamilies is relatively well established, a phylogenetic study to investigate the internal relations of the subfamily has never been proposed. Molecular studies that have included proceratiine species as terminals seem to indicate a basal position for the genus Discothyrea, which represents the sister group of a clade formed by Probolomyrmex + Proceratium. However, a broader study including a high number of species is needed to improve the knowledge on the phylogenetic relationships in Proceratiinae. The subfamily is relatively poorly represented in myrmecological collections. This is due the fact that individuals are rarely captured by traditional collecting techniques. The Winkler apparatus has proved to be the most efficient method to collect specimens of Proceratiinae, although the number of individuals in the samples is always very low. This apparent rarity is mostly due the cryptic habits of the species and the relatively low size of colonies, which rarely reach 100 individuals. Nests are often found in cavities in the forest floor, in the interstices of the leaf litter, decaying logs, and under stones. Regarding the diet, the few observations made thus far suggest a preference of these ants to prey upon eggs of small soil arthropods, particularly arachnids. Virtually nothing is known about the foraging systems and the reproductive strategies of most proceratiine species.
Research Interests:
Ectatomminae é formada por quatro gêneros: Ectatomma Fr. Smith e Typhlomyrmex Mayr, exclusivos da região Neotropical; Rhytidoponera Mayr, que ocorre apenas na Região Australiana; e Gnamptogenys Roger, presente nas regiões Neotropical,... more
Ectatomminae é formada por quatro
gêneros: Ectatomma Fr. Smith e Typhlomyrmex
Mayr, exclusivos da região Neotropical;
Rhytidoponera Mayr, que ocorre apenas na Região
Australiana; e Gnamptogenys Roger, presente
nas regiões Neotropical, Neártica, Indo-malaia
e Australiana. Em termos de diversidade, a
subfamília é composta por 266 espécies no mundo
todo, com 112 ocorrendo na Região Neotropical,
e 50 presentes no Brasil. Pouco se sabe sobre as
relações filogenéticas internas em Ectatomminae,
mas muitos estudos têm sido feitos na tentativa
de se compreender a taxonomia e a biologia dos
gêneros, especialmente daqueles que ocorrem no
Brasil. Atualmente, a identificação das espécies de
Ectatomminae é relativamente fácil, contando com
chaves dicotômicas eficientes para os três gêneros.
Quanto à sua biologia, a subfamília apresenta
espécies nidificando no solo, na serapilheira, em
troncos em decomposição ou mesmo no estrato
arbóreo e arbustivo de florestas, incluindo o
dossel. São na maioria predadoras generalistas,
com algumas espécies que coletam honeydew
de hemípteros e néctar-extrafloral de plantas.
Há ainda o registro de pelo menos um caso de
parasitismo social nesta subfamília.
gêneros: Ectatomma Fr. Smith e Typhlomyrmex
Mayr, exclusivos da região Neotropical;
Rhytidoponera Mayr, que ocorre apenas na Região
Australiana; e Gnamptogenys Roger, presente
nas regiões Neotropical, Neártica, Indo-malaia
e Australiana. Em termos de diversidade, a
subfamília é composta por 266 espécies no mundo
todo, com 112 ocorrendo na Região Neotropical,
e 50 presentes no Brasil. Pouco se sabe sobre as
relações filogenéticas internas em Ectatomminae,
mas muitos estudos têm sido feitos na tentativa
de se compreender a taxonomia e a biologia dos
gêneros, especialmente daqueles que ocorrem no
Brasil. Atualmente, a identificação das espécies de
Ectatomminae é relativamente fácil, contando com
chaves dicotômicas eficientes para os três gêneros.
Quanto à sua biologia, a subfamília apresenta
espécies nidificando no solo, na serapilheira, em
troncos em decomposição ou mesmo no estrato
arbóreo e arbustivo de florestas, incluindo o
dossel. São na maioria predadoras generalistas,
com algumas espécies que coletam honeydew
de hemípteros e néctar-extrafloral de plantas.
Há ainda o registro de pelo menos um caso de
parasitismo social nesta subfamília.
Research Interests:
Heteroponerinae comprises three ant genera: Acanthoponera Mayr, Aulacopone Arnol’di and Heteroponera Mayr. Acanthoponera is exclusively Neotropical, while Heteroponera shows a disjoint distribution in the Americas and Australia.... more
Heteroponerinae comprises three ant genera: Acanthoponera Mayr, Aulacopone Arnol’di and Heteroponera Mayr. Acanthoponera is exclusively Neotropical, while Heteroponera shows a disjoint distribution in the Americas and Australia. Aulacopone is known only from the Paleartic Region. Acanthoponera is represented by four Neotropical species. Heteroponera possess 19 species, six of which are restricted to the Australian Region and 13 are exclusively Neotropical. Aulacopone is known from a single species, A. relicta, represented by two queens collected around the 1930s in two localities in Southeast Asia (Azerbaijan). The phylogeny of the group demonstrates the monophyly of Heteroponerinae and its genera. The internal relationships indicate a basal position of the paleartic genus Aulacopone, which appears as sister group to the clade Acanthoponera + Heteroponera. Regarding Heteroponera, the most diverse heteroponerine genus, the presence of these lineages in at least two biogeographic regions and the phylogenetic proximity found between Andean and Australian groups reveal an interesting biogeographic scenario. Field observations allied to label data from museum specimens provide important information about the natural history of the group. Larvae of Heteroponerinae are predominantly predators, and workers are occasionally observed feeding on insect and plant exudates. Nests can support colonies with dozens to a few hundred of individuals. Heteroponera are diurnal and can nest in soil and vegetation, but preferentially forage in the soil, while Acanthoponera is nocturnal and exclusively arboreal. With respect to the reproductive strategy, some species of Heteroponera may possess ergatoid queens, which can share the reproductive function with dealate queens, while in other species the winged queens are completely replaced by ergatoids. As far as we know, all species of Acanthoponera have winged queens.
Research Interests:
Esta cartilha é um dos produtos do projeto de pesquisa “Biodiversidade e funções ecológicas de formigas – Bioindicação de impactos ambientais e de recuperação de áreas degradadas” – Processo CRA - RDP-00123-10, financiado pela Fapemig e... more
Esta cartilha é um dos produtos do projeto de pesquisa “Biodiversidade e funções ecológicas de formigas – Bioindicação de impactos ambientais e de recuperação de áreas degradadas” – Processo CRA - RDP-00123-10, financiado pela Fapemig e Vale S.A, apoiado também pelo auxílio FAPEMIG - CRA PPM-00243/14. Este projeto foi desenvolvido por pesquisadores e estudantes das instituições: Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA), Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), Universidade Federal do Acre (UFAC), Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Universidade Federal de Rondônia (UNIR), Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso (UFMT), Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Pará (UNIFESSPA) e Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais (UEMG). O objetivo do projeto foi avaliar áreas de Cerrado que estão sob impacto da mineração ou em processo de reabilitação ambiental, utilizando a resposta das comunidades de formigas e das principais funções ecológicas mediadas por estas (dispersão de sementes, decomposição da matéria orgânica e ciclagem de nutrientes). A partir dos resultados encontrados podemos fornecer subsídios de forma a diminuir o tempo de amostragem das formigas bioindicadoras, indicar o melhor método e época para coleta dessas formigas, indicar quais variáveis ambientais devem ser mantidas em áreas degradadas ou incrementadas em áreas em reabilitação, além de definir quais são as estratégias de reabilitação que devem ser usadas prioritariamente. Este trabalho fornece subsídios para o manejo de áreas degradadas pela mineração e para a avaliação das diferentes estratégias de reabilitação. Esta cartilha foi produzida a partir de uma demanda indicada pela parceria com a Vale S.A., com o intuito de facilitar a troca de informações entre os funcionários da empresa que trabalham direta e indiretamente com a reabilitação de áreas degradadas e os pesquisadores que desenvolveram o projeto. Nós, pesquisadores, selecionamos criteriosamente quais seriam as principais informações que poderíamos trabalhar nesta cartilha de forma que ela servisse para que os funcionários da Vale S.A. tivessem uma maior autonomia na avaliação e no manejo de áreas degradadas pela mineração. Dessa forma, publicamos este trabalho abordando diferentes temas, tais como: 1) qual o método mais eficiente e com melhor relação custo/benefício para coleta das formigas indicadoras em áreas em reabilitação?; 2) uma lista de espécies de formigas indicadoras de áreas em reabilitação, áreas impactadas e áreas com vegetação nativa de Cerrado, com fotos e características das formigas
3) algumas estratégias de manejo para o controle de formigas cortadeiras, além de 4) uma discussão acerca da importância da dispersão de sementes em áreas em reabilitação, com sugestões de espécies de plantas a serem usadas de forma a facilitar este processo pelas formigas.
3) algumas estratégias de manejo para o controle de formigas cortadeiras, além de 4) uma discussão acerca da importância da dispersão de sementes em áreas em reabilitação, com sugestões de espécies de plantas a serem usadas de forma a facilitar este processo pelas formigas.
Research Interests:
Este guia não busca trazer uma revisão profunda sobre a biologia, ecologia e evolução das formigas. Na realidade, apresentamos de forma condensada informações básicas sobre esses temas que a maioria dos mirmecólogos (as pessoas que... more
Este guia não busca trazer uma revisão profunda sobre a biologia, ecologia e evolução das formigas. Na realidade, apresentamos de forma condensada informações básicas sobre esses temas que a maioria dos mirmecólogos (as pessoas que estudam formigas) devem conhecer. Muita informação importante ficou de fora, mas esse viés foi proposital. Foi a única forma que encontramos para enfatizar as chaves de identificação e os gêneros de formigas da forma que merecem, mantendo o guia em um tamanho razoável. Discutir em profundidade a biologia, ecologia e evolução das formigas que ocorrem no Brasil, fatalmente terminaria em um livro com mais de 2.000 páginas, e a mesma informação está disponível em outros livros especializados. Porém, mesmo com o viés dado, esperamos que o guia seja útil também para graduandos, pós graduandos e mesmo pesquisadores da área.
Research Interests: Systematics (Taxonomy), Zoology, Entomology, Animal Behavior, Brazil, and 3 moreEcology, Ants, and Neotropics
With 55 genera and 1,611 species currently described, the ants collectively referred to as “Poneromorphs” globally correspond to those subfamilies that formerly represented tribes of the subfamily Ponerinae, prior to the supra-generic... more
With 55 genera and 1,611 species currently described, the ants collectively referred to as “Poneromorphs” globally correspond to those subfamilies that formerly represented tribes of the subfamily Ponerinae, prior to the supra-generic classification of Formicidae by Bolton, published in 2003. This artificial grouping aggregates a large set of taxa that are now contained within the
subfamilies Amblyoponinae, Ectatomminae, Heteroponerinae, Paraponerinae, Ponerinae (in its modern sense) and Proceratiinae. These ants share a great diversity in native environments and possess many morphological and behavioural characteristics that lead to them being considered “basal” or “primitive”. This book presents a set of original studies and literature reviews that focus on different areas of knowledge, such as taxonomy, genetics, cytogenetics, morphology, pharmacology, behavioural sciences, agronomy, ecology, biogeography and biomonitoring.
subfamilies Amblyoponinae, Ectatomminae, Heteroponerinae, Paraponerinae, Ponerinae (in its modern sense) and Proceratiinae. These ants share a great diversity in native environments and possess many morphological and behavioural characteristics that lead to them being considered “basal” or “primitive”. This book presents a set of original studies and literature reviews that focus on different areas of knowledge, such as taxonomy, genetics, cytogenetics, morphology, pharmacology, behavioural sciences, agronomy, ecology, biogeography and biomonitoring.
Research Interests:
Editado por Silvia Suguituru, Maria Santina Morini, Rodrigo Feitosa e Rogério Silva, trata-se do primeiro livro sobre a fauna de formigas de uma região brasileira, contendo ilustrações coloridas detalhadas e informações relevantes de... more
Editado por Silvia Suguituru, Maria Santina Morini, Rodrigo Feitosa e Rogério Silva, trata-se do primeiro livro sobre a fauna de formigas de uma região brasileira, contendo ilustrações coloridas detalhadas e informações relevantes de história natural e ecologia de mais de 200 espécies. São fornecidos dados sobre a distribuição geográfica das espécies, os tipos de ambientes onde são encontradas, microhabitats preferenciais, locais de nidificação, substrato de forrageamento, hábitos alimentares, horário de atividade, estratégias comportamentais diversas, organização social, potencial como praga urbana ou agrícola, e até como devem ser coletadas. O volume é também enriquecido por capítulos esclarecedores, escritos por alguns dos melhores especialistas brasileiros, sobre a morfologia e sistemática das formigas além de sua relevância ecológica.
Research Interests:
I present and discuss the most recent and significant changes in the classification of the major ant groups, with emphasis on the Neotropical subfamilies, comparing recent and the past proposals. In addition, I comment some of in progress... more
I present and discuss the most recent and significant changes in the classification of the major ant groups, with emphasis on the Neotropical subfamilies, comparing recent and the past proposals. In addition, I comment some of in progress studies that may affect significantly the knowledge on the relations between these groups, reflected in the current taxonomic classification of ants.
Myrmecology deals with the several aspects of the study of a single family, Formicidae, which, however, shows comparatively high biodiversity. Still, the subarea can be considered to be a privileged within Zoology by the significant number of active myrmecologists compared to researchers that work with similar taxonomic categories. This has contributed significantly to the knowledge so far accumulated on the group.
Over the past few years, myrmecologists have seen the construction of Barry Bolton´s contribution expressed in two catalogs, one illustrated key for genera of the world, a complete ant taxonomic bibliography, and a complete reorganization of the world subfamilies (Bolton 1994, Bolton 1995, Bolton 2003, Bolton et al., 2006). Although not based on explicit phylogenetic analysis, Bolton inferred the phylogenetic relationships employed in their proposals for classification using his expertise in comparative morphology. The accuracy of his classifications is made evident when we examine the recent proposals of ant phylogeny using molecular characters; many of the groups proposed by Bolton are retrieved under different approaches. The internal phylogenetic relationships of Formicidae are, however, far from being satisfactorily known, representing an important source of present discussion in the literature.
Recent findings derived from the use of new tools for making phylogenetic inferences and differences of opinion among ant systematists regarding the position of some groups make the classification of higher taxonomic groups rather unstable and provide a relative accumulation of proposals that can somehow hinder the communication among myrmecologists, especially those who not employ systematics as the main work tool, but need to make use of accurate and recent classifications for the development and dissemination of their work.
When published in accordance with the rules of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, a proposed classification is immediately valid. However, contrary to what many researchers believe, the novel classification does not need to be adopted in ongoing studies. Theoretically, when an author (whether taxonomist, ecologist, ethologist, or specialist in any other discipline) uses a specific classification in his work, it means that he/she knows and agrees with the criteria used by the author to build the classification. Thus, it is unwise to use a classification proposal without knowing its contents. Furthermore, by adopting a proposal different from the most recent classification, the author should be able to justify his/her choice and so to judge the merits of different proposals.
Myrmecology deals with the several aspects of the study of a single family, Formicidae, which, however, shows comparatively high biodiversity. Still, the subarea can be considered to be a privileged within Zoology by the significant number of active myrmecologists compared to researchers that work with similar taxonomic categories. This has contributed significantly to the knowledge so far accumulated on the group.
Over the past few years, myrmecologists have seen the construction of Barry Bolton´s contribution expressed in two catalogs, one illustrated key for genera of the world, a complete ant taxonomic bibliography, and a complete reorganization of the world subfamilies (Bolton 1994, Bolton 1995, Bolton 2003, Bolton et al., 2006). Although not based on explicit phylogenetic analysis, Bolton inferred the phylogenetic relationships employed in their proposals for classification using his expertise in comparative morphology. The accuracy of his classifications is made evident when we examine the recent proposals of ant phylogeny using molecular characters; many of the groups proposed by Bolton are retrieved under different approaches. The internal phylogenetic relationships of Formicidae are, however, far from being satisfactorily known, representing an important source of present discussion in the literature.
Recent findings derived from the use of new tools for making phylogenetic inferences and differences of opinion among ant systematists regarding the position of some groups make the classification of higher taxonomic groups rather unstable and provide a relative accumulation of proposals that can somehow hinder the communication among myrmecologists, especially those who not employ systematics as the main work tool, but need to make use of accurate and recent classifications for the development and dissemination of their work.
When published in accordance with the rules of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, a proposed classification is immediately valid. However, contrary to what many researchers believe, the novel classification does not need to be adopted in ongoing studies. Theoretically, when an author (whether taxonomist, ecologist, ethologist, or specialist in any other discipline) uses a specific classification in his work, it means that he/she knows and agrees with the criteria used by the author to build the classification. Thus, it is unwise to use a classification proposal without knowing its contents. Furthermore, by adopting a proposal different from the most recent classification, the author should be able to justify his/her choice and so to judge the merits of different proposals.
Research Interests:
The year 2020 marked the centenary of the birth of the German-Brazilian myrmecologist, Dr. Frei Walter Wolfgang Franz Kempf, O.F.M., (1920-1976), whose remarkable research contributed greatly to the advancement of the taxonomy of... more
The year 2020 marked the centenary of the birth of the German-Brazilian myrmecologist, Dr. Frei Walter Wolfgang Franz Kempf, O.F.M., (1920-1976), whose remarkable research contributed greatly to the advancement of the taxonomy of Neotropical ants, especially in Brazil. This post is a tribute to mark his centenary and to recognize the relevance of his legacy.
Research Interests:
The recent political crisis in Brazil and its consequences on human rights and environment have been occupying the front pages of international newspapers. Particularly, the cuts in the funds for the maintenance of Public Universities,... more
The recent political crisis in Brazil and its consequences on human rights and environment have been occupying the front pages of international newspapers. Particularly, the cuts in the funds for the maintenance of Public Universities, independent of ideology or need, is threatening our biodiversity knowledge. The major part of Brazilian biological collections is hosted by Public Universities. Without basic maintenance there is an imminent potential of a catastrophic deterioration on such collections, leading to the loss of decades of knowledge and millions of dollars in Scientific Investment. Brazilian and international communities need to mobilize themselves against such a policy.