The mechanisms affecting forest regeneration in human‐modified landscapes are attracting increasing attention as tropical forests have been recognized as key habitats for biodiversity conservation, provision of ecosystem services, and human well‐being. Here we investigate the effect of the leaf‐cutting ants (LCA) Atta opaciceps on regenerating plant assemblages in Caatinga dry forest. Our study encompassed 15 Atta opaciceps colonies located in landscape patches with a gradient of forest cover from 8.7% to 87.8%, where we monitored regenerating individuals (seedlings and saplings of woody and herbaceous plants) in different habitats (nests, foraging areas, and control areas) over one year. We recorded 2,977 regenerating plant individuals, distributed among 55 species from 23 families. Herbaceous plants represented 82.1% and 58.2% of the total number of individuals and species, respectively. Species richness of both the whole and herbaceous plant assemblages increased along the forest cover gradient, but without difference between the habitats. Total plant abundance was highest in control areas followed by foraging areas and nests and this pattern held for both woody and herbaceous plants. Although forest cover did not influence the abundance of herbaceous plants and the whole plant assemblage, it positively affects woody plant abundance across control areas. Forest cover and habitat changed species composition of both the entire regenerating and the herbaceous assemblages. These results together indicate that LCA negatively impact regenerating plant assemblages, particularly in those sites with increased forest cover. As LCA proliferate in human‐modified landscapes, they may prevent plant regeneration of disturbed areas.

中文翻译：

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切叶蚁对废弃牧场中Caatinga干燥森林的再生产生负面影响

由于人们公认热带森林是生物多样性保护，提供生态系统服务和人类福祉的重要栖息地，因此在人类修改的景观中影响森林再生的机制越来越受到关注。在这里，我们研究了切叶蚁（LCA）Atta opaciceps对Caatinga干旱森林中再生植物组合的影响。我们的研究涵盖了15种Atta混浊殖民地位于森林覆盖率从8.7％到87.8％的景观斑块中，我们在一年中监测了不同生境（嵌套，觅食区和控制区）中的再生个体（木本和草本植物的幼苗和幼树）。我们记录了2,977个再生植物个体，分布在23个科的55个物种中。草本植物分别占个体和物种总数的82.1％和58.2％。整个和草本植物群落的物种丰富度都沿着森林覆盖梯度增加，但生境之间没有差异。对照区的总植物丰度最高，其次是觅食区和巢，而木本和草本植物均保持这种模式。尽管森林覆盖率不影响草本植物的丰度和整个植物的组合，但对整个控制区域的木本植物丰度具有积极影响。森林覆盖和栖息地改变了整个再生和草本组合的物种组成。这些结果共同表明，LCA对再生植物组合产生负面影响，尤其是在森林覆盖率增加的地区。随着LCA在人为改变的景观中扩散，它们可能会阻止受干扰地区的植物再生。特别是在森林覆盖率增加的地区。随着LCA在人为改变的景观中扩散，它们可能会阻止受干扰地区的植物再生。特别是在森林覆盖率增加的地区。随着LCA在人为改变的景观中扩散，它们可能会阻止受干扰地区的植物再生。