Baseline surveys for ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the western Everglades, Collier County, Florida
Keywords:
hydrologic restoration, exotic species, plant communitiesAbstract
Baseline surveys for ants were conducted in hydrologically disturbed and undisturbed preserves in the western Everglades in Collier County, Florida, by using baited vials and sweep nets. The 50 sampling sites were selected based on 1) major plant communities and 2) whether or not the site was located in an area that is expected to be affected by the hydrologic restoration of Picayune Strand State Forest. Forty-eight species were collected, of which 33 were native and 15 were exotic. The surveys revealed that approximately half of the species identified were associated with specific plant communities. As these surveys were site specific and can be repeated at a later date, shifts in the distribution and frequency of the ant species can be used to assess successional changes in the plant communities resulting from the hydrologic restoration of the Picayune Strand State Forest and adjacent preserves.
Resumen
Se realizaron sondeos de referencia de hormigas de reservas hidrológicamente perturbadas y no perturbadas en el occidente de los Everglades en el Condado de Collier, Florida, mediante el uso de viales cebados y redes entomologicas. Se seleccionaron los 50 sitios de muestreo basado en 1) Las principales comunidades de plantas y 2) si el sitio se encuentra en una zona que se espera que sea afectada por la restauración hidrológica de Bosque Estatal de Picayune Strand. Se recogieron cuarenta y ocho especies; de los cuales 33 son nativas y 15 fueron exóticas. Los sondeos revelaron que aproximadamente la mitad de las especies identificadas se asociaron con las comunidades específicas de plantas. Dado que estos sondeos fueron específicos del sitio y se pueden repetir en una fecha posterior, los cambios en la distribución y frecuencia de las especies de hormigas se puede utilizar para evaluar los cambios de sucesión en las comunidades de plantas resultantes de la restauración hidrológica del Bosque Estatal de Picayune Strand y las reservas adyacentes.
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