Diversidad de hormigas (hymenoptera: formicidae) en bosque subandino de la provincia del Sumapaz (Venecia, Cundinamarca)

Abstract

Colombian sub-Andean forests, although little studied and threatened, are home to essential organisms such as ants, which perform key ecological functions. This study aimed to analyze the composition of ant communities, identifying their ecological functions and variations in assemblages in three different zones (Forest, Edge and Agroecological) during the period 2021-2022. Sampling was carried out in rainy and dry seasons using four capture methods (Pitfall, Winkler, Bait and Manual). The results showed that the Edge zone had the highest species richness (56 species), while the Forest zone had the highest abundance and dominance (31 morphospecies), with high numbers of individuals and capture events. Beta diversity revealed a dissimilarity greater than 47% between the three zones, according to the Jaccard dendrogram, and the multivariate analysis indicated a high degree of overlap between species, especially between the Agroecological and Forest zones (36 shared species). Seven functional guilds were identified, with significant differences between the Forest zone and the other two zones. The most relevant indicator species were Wasmannia auropunctata for the Agroecological zone, Cyphomyrmex rimosus for the Edge zone and Solenopsis sp4 for the Forest zone. The canonical correspondence analysis showed that approximately 25 species are significantly related to the five environmental variables evaluated.