Contribution of cocoa plantations to the conservation of native ants (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with a special emphasis on the Atlantic Forest fauna of southern Bahia, Brazil

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dc.contributor.authorJacques H.C. Delabie
dc.contributor.authorBenoit Jahyny
dc.contributor.authorIvan Cardoso do Nascimento
dc.contributor.authorClea S.F. Mariano
dc.contributor.authorSebastien Lacau
dc.contributor.authorSofia Campiolo
dc.contributor.authorStacy M. Philpott
dc.contributor.authorMaurice Leponce
dc.date.accessioned2014-04-05T09:28:08Z
dc.date.available2014-04-05T09:28:08Z
dc.date.issued2007
dc.description.abstractBy maintaining a forest-like structure, shaded cocoa plantations contribute to the conservation of ants that usually live in the soil, leaf litter or canopy of tropical forests. Here we synthesize the available information on the diversity and community structure of ants in shaded cocoa plantations in the Atlantic forest region of Brazil, compare ant assemblages in cocoa agroforests with forests and other forms of agriculture, and discuss how these shaded plantations contribute to the conservation of the ants in the Atlantic Forest region. We also discuss ants of economical importance and of special interest, including Camponotus, Dolichoderus, Gnamptogenys, Pachycondyla, Pseudomyrmex and other litter dwelling genera. We discuss the situation of the tramp ant Wasmannia auropunctata in the Bahian cocoa-producing region where it is considered as native, and that of the two cryptobiotic genera Thaumatomyrmex and Typhlomyrmex, as well as that of proven and possible endangered army ant and Ponerini species. A total of 192 ant species from four strata were found in extensive sampling of a cocoa plantation with a relatively simple shade canopy (comprised primarily of Erythrina). Species richness in the cocoa plantations corresponded roughly to that of low diversity native forests, and species composition of cocoa plantations was most similar to native habitats (forest and mangroves) while ant composition in other agricultural habitats was most similar to that of urban areas. Although occurrences of Wasmannia auropunctata were similar in cocoa plantations and forests, abundance of Thaumatomyrmex and Typhlomyrmex, generally thought to be rare ants, was relatively high in cocoa plantations. These results, from cocoa plantations with relatively simple shade, demonstrate the importance of cocoa for ant conservation in the Atlantic forest region of Brazil. It is likely that cocoa plantations with a greater number of vegetation strata and higher tree species richness (such as traditional cabruca plantations) provide even more important habitat for ants generally and for ant species of conservation concern.en_US
dc.identifier.citationBiodivers Conserv (2007) 16:2359–2384en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/266
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherSpringer Science+Business Media B.V.en_US
dc.subjectAgroecosystemen_US
dc.subjectArboreal antsen_US
dc.subjectCabrucaen_US
dc.subjectCommunity structureen_US
dc.subjectErythrinaen_US
dc.subjectForesten_US
dc.subjectGround-dwelling antsen_US
dc.subjectNeotropical faunaen_US
dc.subjectTheobroma cacaoen_US
dc.titleContribution of cocoa plantations to the conservation of native ants (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with a special emphasis on the Atlantic Forest fauna of southern Bahia, Brazilen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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