EFFECT OF LINEAR INFRASTRUCTURE ON DIVERSITY OF ANTS IN HYPER-ARID MONTE DESERT, SAN JUAN PROVINCE

DEL VALLE AMATTA, EMILCE; CALCATERRA, LUIS; GIANONNI, STELLA

Maipú, Mendoza

Congreso; XXXI Reunión Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de CuyoXXXI Reunión Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo; 2013

The maintenance of species diversity in natural ecosystems is a central focus of conservation biology. Linear infrastructures cause important changes in the environment producing changes at the landscape level and physical characteristics, as well as alterations in the ecosystem functions. Ants are often used as bioindicators because they are easily collected and respond quickly to environmental changes. The abundance of ant colonies on the roads or near them is determined by the responses of each species to a number of characteristics of these environments. The aim is to evaluate the effect of Central Corridor (National Road 150) on ant diversity in Ischigualasto Provincial Park. In January 2013, we set up a total of 30 transects (sampling unit), 15 transects in disturbed and 15 in undisturbed areas. In each transects of 50 m long (separated by 1 km) was set up 6 pitfall traps (subsampling unit) during 24 hs. Twenty-two species of ants were collected, 6 species were restricted only to disturbed and 3 to undisturbed areas. Tree species were the most prevalent and abundant, counting for 60% of the total ants captured. Ants diversity were higher, although no significantly, in disturbed than in undisturbed areas (Simpson´s index, 0.16 and 0.14). Species with abundance significantly higher in undisturbed than disturbed areas were Dorymyrmex sp.; D. ensifer; D. planidens; F. albiventris; C. punctulatus; A. striatus and P. cunicularius (GLM; p