Abstract

ZOLA-RODRIGUEZ, Meghan I.; CUAUTLE, Mariana; RODRIGUEZ-FLORES, Marco Daniel  and  CASTILLO-GUEVARA, Citlalli. Impacts of disturbance on ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) food preferences and dominance in a Mexican temperate forest. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2024, vol.95, e955523.  Epub Aug 11, 2025. ISSN 2007-8706.  https://doi.org/10.22201/ib.20078706e.2024.95.5523.

This study examines the impact of disturbance on the food preferences and dominance of an ant community in a temperate ecosystem in Mexico. The study focused on 2 types of vegetation: native oak forest and induced grassland (disturbed vegetation). Observations were conducted to record the food elements carried by ants to their nests. These data were analyzed using x 2 tests. Tuna and honey baits were placed near the nests to record the presence of ants in 5-minute periods. We used a binomial model to determine whether the probability of finding an ant foraging at the baits was affected by vegetation type, bait type, and/or ant species. Additional baits were used to determine the ant dominance indices. T-tests and ANOVAs were used to compare dominance indices between vegetation types, baits, and ant species. No significant differences were observed in food preferences between vegetations. However, some species showed a preference for honey (i.e., carbohydrates), which could be limited in ground-level environments. Ants showed a submissive behavior in both vegetation types. This research shows that ants could optimize their nutrient intake, enabling them to survive efficiently even when facing disturbances, instead of increasing dominance.

Keywords : Ant nest; Dominance index; Feeding habits; Compensation hypothesis; Carbohydrates; Proteins.

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