Ant fauna associated with urban forestry in Três Rios city, southeastern Brazil

Abstract

We wished to analyze the ant fauna on tree species used in public road afforestation. The study was conducted in the city of Três Rios, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. The ant fauna was collected on Licania tomentosa (Benth.) Fritsch, Cassia siamea Lam., Pachira aquatica Aubl. and Terminalia catappa L. Sardine baits were applied with a paint-brush to the trunk of 20 trees of each species and after 1 hour ants were collected manually. Trunk circumference at breast height (CBH) and canopy diameter were obtained from each tree used in the study. We collected 24 ant species belonging to 16 genera and five subfamilies. The highest species richness was obtained on L. tomentosa (13 species), followed by C. siamea (12 species), T. catappa (nine species) and P. aquatica (five species). Average richness was higher on L. tomentosa (1.65 ± 0.75 species) than on P. aquatica (0.75 ± 0.55 species) (ANCOVA, F3.80 = 3.664, P = 0.02), but it did not differ among the other tree species. Ant species richness was affected neither by CBH (F1.80 = 0.010, P = 0.92) nor by canopy diameter (F1.80 = 1.378, P = 0.24). Species composition differed among tree species (ANOSIM , R = 0.1217 , P < 0.01), except between L. tomentosa and P. aquatica. Thus, the use of a greater number of tree species on public roads may contribute to the maintenance of more ant species in urban areas.