The fragmentation and transformation of land cover modify the microclimate of ecosystems. These changes have the potential to modify the foraging activity of animals, but few studies have examined this topic. In this study, we investigated whether and how the foraging activity of the leaf‐cutter ant Atta cephalotes is modified by microclimatic variations due to land cover change from forest to pasture. We characterized the microclimate of each habitat and identified alterations in foraging behavior in response to relative humidity (RH), air temperature, and surface temperature along ant foraging trails by synchronously assessing foraging activity (number of ants per 5 min including incoming laden and unladen and outgoing ants) and microclimatic variables (air temperature, RH, and maximum and minimum surface temperature along the foraging trail). There were climatic differences between habitats during the day but not throughout the night, and A. cephalotes was found to have a high tolerance for foraging under severe microclimatic changes. This species can forage at surface temperatures between 17 and 45°C, air temperatures between 20 and 36°C, and an RH between 40% and 100%. We found a positive effect of temperature on the foraging activity of A. cephalotes in the pasture, where the species displayed thermophilic behavior and the ability to forage across a wide range of temperatures and RH. These results provide a mechanism to partially explain why A. cephalotes becomes highly prolific as anthropogenic disturbances increase and why it has turned into a key player of human‐modified neotropical landscapes.

中文翻译：

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牧场和森林小气候条件对切叶蚂蚁觅食活性的影响

土地覆盖的碎片化和改造改变了生态系统的小气候。这些变化可能会改变动物的觅食活动，但很少有研究检查该主题。在这项研究中，我们调查了切叶蚁Atta头孢是否觅食和如何觅食由于从森林到牧场的土地覆被变化，微气候变化会对其进行修改。通过同步评估觅食活动（每5分钟的蚂蚁数量，包括进来的有载和无载动物以及外出蚂蚁）和小气候变量（气温，相对湿度以及沿觅食路线的最高和最低地表温度）。白天但并非整夜之间，生境与头孢曲霉之间存在气候差异。被发现在严重的小气候变化下对觅食具有很高的耐受性。该物种可在17至45°C的地表温度，20至36°C的空气温度以及40％至100％的相对湿度下觅食。我们发现温度对牧场中头孢曲霉的觅食活动具有积极影响，该物种在高温和相对湿度范围内均表现出嗜热行为和觅食能力。这些结果提供了一种机制，可以部分解释为什么人为干扰导致头孢菌变得高度多产，以及为什么它已成为人类改良的新热带景观的关键角色。