Composição da assembleia de formigas em três fitofisionomias do Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca – MG

Abstract

Inventories of ants species can provide data about distribution of rare, threatened or with ecological importance species, some of them are cited at the literature as bioindicators due to its ability to respond to stress in a much more sensitive way than other animals. This study was conducted in Ibitipoca State Park – MG in order to provide a database on the local ant fauna. The ants assemblage was sampled and characterized and the ecological parameters investigated were: richness, diversity, dominance and evenness. The sampling sites were Riparian Forest (MC), Field Rock (CR) and Secondary Semidecidual Rain Forest (MS). Pit-fall, bait attractive of sardines and honey and manual collection of litter were the collection methods used during July and December 2008. A total of 8730 individuals, 20 genera, 46 subfamilies and eight species were sampled. The rarefaction curve suggests that samples included the most species, except in the riparian forest, which tends to curve does not asymptote. The subfamily with the largest number of genera was Myrmicinae and the genera more representative was Pheidole. The average abundance of ants was greater in the riparian forest, as well as the Margalef richness index. The diversity index (Shannon) was very close to the three areas and can be considered relatively high. The Dominance was low and Equitability high, indicating a uniform distribution among the species that composed the Park ant fauna. Our results demonstrate that the relations of dominance and/or codominance are well established. Classifying species into functional groups, are the predominant Generalists Myrmicinae (Crematogaster and Pheidole): Secondary Forest (75.50%), Camp Rock (59.45%) and riparian forest (45.63%). The results contribute to a database to assist in future conservation actions, using ants as a research tool and as bioindicators.