Changes in arboreal ant populations following pruning of coffee shade-treesin Chiapas,Mexico |
| |
Authors: | Stacy M Philpott |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;(2) Present address: Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, National Zoological Park, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA |
| |
Abstract: | Reducing or eliminating shade cover in coffee (Coffea arabica L.) agroforestry systems affects fungal disease and pest outbreaks, coffee yields, and can result in biodiversity loss of
important predators, such as ants. Less dramatic changes in shade structure or composition may also affect ants. Shade tree
pruning, a common management practice in shaded coffee systems, has unknown consequences for ant communities. The effects
of pruning on arboreal ant communities were investigated by measuring ant abundance, distribution, and species richness in
the short (1 week) and long-term (6 months) after shade tree pruning in one 25×50 m plot. Shade tree pruning significantly
affected the distribution and abundance of two of the most common ant species (Azteca instabilis F. Smith and Camponotus senex textor Forel), and in general did not affect other ants. After pruning, C. senex textor ants were 80% more abundant on coffee plants and shade trees, whereas A. instabilis abundance dropped by 40% on coffee plants and 73% on shade trees after pruning. Additionally, C. senex textor were significantly more widespread, whereas A. instabilis distributions were more restricted. The effects of pruning were strong over the short-term, but were not evident over the
long-term. Shade tree pruning did not affect ant diversity. Thus shade tree pruning largely affected certain aspects of arboreal
ant communities in one coffee agroforestry system, with important implications for biological control. |
| |
Keywords: | Azteca biological control Camponotus Chiapas Management system Mexico |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|