Some Ecological Characteristics of the Ants of a Desert-Shrub Community in Southeastern Arizona

Abstract

Ants were studied principally by analysis of collections at 66 stations on a 30.3 m grid baited with honey solution and peanut butter. Twenty-three species were collected, which is an exceptionally diverse ant fauna for a small area. Analyses suggest there are several bases for coexistence of these species: mean body weights of most species are significantly different from each other, and always so within 3 general feeding categories (seeds; nectar, honeydew and insects; and omnivorous). The mean ratio of dry weight of workers of pairs of nearest species was 1.66 within feeding categories and 1.28 between categories. Forage items showed some distinctiveness of food habits among species. Some species were clearly diurnal and others nocturnal in Aug. Only 4 spp. were active up in shrubs in the daytime, and they had their peak numbers in different months or different species of shrubs. Hierarchical classification of stations by species characteristics showed some patterns of distribution of groups of sites according to topography and unknown factors. Other data are given on importance curves, enrichment of species collected with time and space sampled, species-area relationship, species interactions and patterns of daily dispersal of workers.