Ectatomma ruidum (Roger) as indicator of hunting ants diversity (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and relationship with vegetation structure in tropical dry forest patches at Colombian Caribbean

Abstract

The community of hunting ants in three patches of tropical dry forest in a coastal strip of Atlántico department was studied in habitats of interior forest and its anthropogenic matrix. The forests chosen were located at the Piojó, Tubará and Barranquilla municipalities. In each habitat a 150 m long transect was established with 15 sampling stations, using pitfall traps, tuna baits, Winkler bags, and manual capture. The most abundant and widely distributed species were Ectatomma ruidum and Odontomachus bauri. A negative high correlation was found between the capture percentage of E. ruidum and overall ants’ richness and diversity; this relationship can be explained given the species capacity and adaptability to find and exploit different kinds of resources in disturbed areas. A different situation occurs with O. bauri, which had a positive correlation with richness and diversity. E. ruidum is proposed in order to monitoring the conservation of these Tropical Dry Forest. In addition, a positive and significant relationship was detected between the richness and abundance of hunting ants and the percentage of vegetation cover and vegetation structure, which validates the importance of a heterogeneous habitat to promote biodiversity