Diversity of soil ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in dense Atlantic Forest and sugarcane plantations in the County of Igarassu-PE

Abstract

The rainforest, for centuries has been suffering interventions due to sugarcane plantation. The present work aimed to evaluate the influence of sugarcane after harvest over soil ant populations in contrast with areas of remaining rainforest. Ants were collected with pitfall traps and direct from the litter. A total of 17.643 individuals were collected, distributed in 111 species, being 81 species of the rainforest and 47 species in the sugarcane. Native forest showed greater diversity of species compared to sugarcane crop, which permit to conclude that the monoculture and the cultural practice alter the composition, diversity, richness and number of individuals per species in the community of soil ants.