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Ant functional structure and diversity changes along a post-grazing succession in Mediterranean oak woodlands

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Abstract

Grazing exclusion may be used to promote the recovery of disturbed ecosystems. A promising way for the evaluation of its effectiveness is through the monitoring of key biological groups, particularly those more responsive to disturbance and playing key roles in ecosystem functioning. Ants have been used as ecological indicators as they are abundant, diverse and sensitive to environmental changes. Here, we aimed to evaluate changes in ant taxonomic and functional structure and diversity, using functional groups, along a post-grazing succession in a Mediterranean oak woodland and to understand which environmental variables drive them. The post-grazing succession comprised a chronosequence of grazing excluded sites for 8, 12 and 18 years and a grazed control site. We found that ant species richness, functional structure and diversity increased with years since grazing exclusion: Generalist/Opportunist and the Hot Climate specialists increased in the 18 years grazing excluded site, while the Cryptic Species group increased in the 12 years grazing excluded site. Yet, their responses were not linear over time. Time since grazing exclusion and vegetation structure explained differences in ant taxonomic and functional structure and diversity. The Invasive/Exotic group dominated in all sites, except in the longest excluded site, where it occurred in the lowest proportion. The invasive Argentine ant dominated the grazed site, where it may have led to ant taxonomic and functional homogenization. Our results suggest that the time and changes in habitat structure may favour the recovery of ant biodiversity, although the presence of the invasive Argentine ant species may have slowed it down.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Companhia das Lezírias S. A. and Engº Rui Alves, for allowing us to sample in the estate, Bernardo Rocha for his help with fieldwork and Sietze Norder for comments on a previous draft. This study was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia within the Fellowship PD/BD/114364/2016 and the project FCT-PTDC/AAG-GLO/0045/2014.

Funding

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia within the Fellowship PD/BD/114,364/2016, and the project FCT-PTDC/AAG-GLO/0045/2014.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. cE3c Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, C2, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal

    Clara Frasconi Wendt, Alice Nunes, Melanie Köbel, Paula Matos & Cristina Branquinho

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Missouri University of Science and Technology, 105 Schrenk Hall, Rolla, MO, 65401, USA

    Robin Verble

  3. cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes/Azorean Biodiversity Group, University of the Azores, Angra do Heroísmo, 9700-042, Terceira, Azores, Portugal

    Mário Boieiro

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  1. Clara Frasconi Wendt
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  2. Alice Nunes
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  3. Melanie Köbel
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  5. Paula Matos
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  7. Cristina Branquinho
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Correspondence to Clara Frasconi Wendt.

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Frasconi Wendt, C., Nunes, A., Köbel, M. et al. Ant functional structure and diversity changes along a post-grazing succession in Mediterranean oak woodlands. Agroforest Syst 95, 1217–1228 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-021-00648-0

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