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Issue: Vol. 72 No. 2: 26 Nov. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-11-26
DOI: 10.12976/jib/2025.72.2.2
Page range: 37-49
Abstract views: 98
PDF downloaded: 0

Contribution of small bromeliads in maintaining arboreal ant diversity (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Programa de Pós-graduação em Zoologia, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil.
Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Evolução, Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil.
Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Programa de Pós-graduação em Zoologia, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil.
Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Programa de Pós-graduação em Zoologia, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil.
Bromeliaceae biodiversity conservation ant-plant interactions nesting

Abstract

Ants are among the most abundant and ecologically significant organisms in terrestrial ecosystems, playing crucial roles due to their remarkable diversity and extensive interactions with other species. In the Atlantic Forest, many ant species inhabit the forest canopy and use epiphytes as microhabitats for foraging and nesting. This study aimed to investigate the occupancy patterns of small bromeliads by arboreal ants for nesting, focusing on specific morphological traits of the plants. We collected and analyzed 148 bromeliads from experimental areas at the Cocoa Research Center in Ilhéus, Bahia. Bromeliad parameters (size and height on the host tree) were recorded and compared between individuals with and without ant nests located at their bases (leaf axils and roots). Ants were found in 31.1% of the bromeliads sampled, including eight instances of cohabitation involving two or more species. We identified 21 ant species (86% native and 14% exotic) from 13 genera and five subfamilies, with Myrmicinae and Formicinae being the most prevalent. No significant relationship was found between nesting and the height or morphological features of the bromeliads. Nevertheless, a notable diversity of associated fauna was recorded, comprising at least 11 distinct animal orders. These findings provide valuable insights into the diversity of organisms associated with small bromeliads and underscore the potential of simple sampling strategies to yield rich ecological data. Our results reinforce the ecological importance of epiphytic plants in sustaining canopy biodiversity in tropical forests.

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