Riqueza de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) en Várzea y Bosque de Tierra Firme de la región amazónica colombiana

Abstract

Richness and composition of ant communities at Monifue-Amena indigenous community (Leticia, Amazonas - Colombia) were compared along four years in two vegetation units: Terra Firme Forest (BTF) and Varzea. Field works were carried out in dry and rainy seasons; methods include Pitfall, Corner, Winkler traps, tree shaking and manual collection. Ant composition was analyzed for each season and vegetation unit, applying richness estimators and similarity analysis. Of 5336 frequency records nine subfamilies, 47 genera and 237 species were registered. BTF exhibited a richness of 210 species whereas Varzea presented 159 species. Comparisons between BTF and Varzea showed differences in the diversity of ants in both temporal and spatial scales; this is partly explained by the influence of inundation processes in Varzea, which modify the arrangement of ant communities. Particularly noteworthy is the existence of 39 species that had never been previously reported for Colombia, and that for 48 species their geographic distribution in the country is extended.