Distribution Pattern of Ants in Huanglianshan National Nature Reserve From Yunnan, China

TL;DR

This study maps ant diversity in a Chinese nature reserve, finding that ant species richness peaks at mid-elevations and is influenced by elevation and habitat type.

Contribution

The study reveals a unimodal pattern of ant species richness with elevation and identifies key habitats for conservation.

Findings

Ant species and genus richness peak at mid-elevations, following a unimodal pattern.

Communities at low and high elevations are significantly different, with similarity decreasing as elevation distance increases.

Tropical seasonal rainforest and mixed forests host the highest ant diversity, while plantations have fewer species.

Abstract

To elucidate the distribution patterns of ant species in the Huanglianshan National Nature Reserve, a plot‐based survey method was employed to investigate ant diversity within the reserve. A total of 209 ant species, representing 9 subfamilies and 66 genera, were collected from 38 plots spanning eight vertical gradient transects. Elevation significantly influenced ant communities within the reserve. Both ant species richness and genus richness exhibited a unimodal pattern (peaking at mid‐elevations) rather than a simple linear relationship with increasing elevation. Ordination analysis revealed significant dissimilarity between communities at low‐ and high‐elevation sites. Furthermore, the distance‐decay model confirmed that community similarity significantly decreased with increasing elevational distance. Regression analysis demonstrated a significant positive correlation between the upper elevational distribution limit of ant species and their elevational distribution breadth, indicating that species occurring at higher elevations possess wider vertical adaptation ranges. Subsequent statistical analysis of foraging and nesting habits showed that the majority of ants foraged on the ground surface and nested within the soil. Among the habitats sampled, low‐altitude tropical seasonal rainforest and coniferous‐broadleaved mixed forest harbored the highest ant species richness. In contrast, eucalyptus plantations and rubber plantations, which exhibit a higher degree of landscape homogeneity, supported significantly fewer ant species. Our data establish a foundation for further research on elevational variation and provide context for discussing key aspects of ant management and conservation in Huanglianshan National Nature Reserve.

This study found that ant diversity in the Huanglian Mountain National Nature Reserve exhibits a non‐linear distribution pattern along the altitudinal gradient, encompassing 209 species across 9 subfamilies and 66 genera. Elevation significantly structured ant communities in the reserve. Species and genus richness followed unimodal patterns (mid‐elevation peaks), while ordination revealed distinct low‐ vs. high‐elevation communities. Community similarity declined significantly with elevational distance. Species at higher elevations showed broader distribution ranges. Most ants foraged on the ground and nested in soil.

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