Diversidade taxonômica e funcional de formigas em um fragmento de floresta tropical úmida: impactos de bordas florestais e da presença de palmeiras

Abstract

Tropical forests are home to some of the planet's greatest biological diversity, yet they are among the ecosystems most vulnerable to human disturbances, such as forest fragmentation, habitat loss, and the resulting expansion and dominance of pioneer species. This study investigated how forest edges and the presence of palm trees influence ant diversity in a fragment of humid tropical forest in the Brejo region of Paraíba (Areia, PB, Brazil). Ants were collected at 30 sampling points – ten in each of three habitats (forest edges, under palm tree canopies, and the forest interior) – alongside local measurements of litter biomass, seedling density, and the abundance of other arthropods. In total, 26 ant species were recorded. Although local (alpha) diversity remained similar across habitats, functional richness varied depending on the type of environment and the amount of litter, indicating that litter acts as an ecological filter that selects for different sets of species. The measure of diversity among different plots within the habitats (beta diversity) revealed an unexpected result: edges and areas under palms had higher functional diversity than the forest interior, suggesting that these zones are not merely degraded areas but also spaces of ecological reconfiguration, where species with different functional traits coexist. The findings indicate that ant responses to disturbance are shaped by subtle interactions between habitat and local variables, particularly litter, whose structure plays a determining role in selecting functional traits. The results suggest that litter is a key component in structuring communities, reinforcing the importance of considering its variations in forest restoration studies and strategies.