1
|
Dijon L, Dekoninck W, Colinet G, Francis F, Noel G. They live under our streets: ant nests (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in urban pavements. Biodivers Data J 2023; 11:e102897. [PMID: 38327342 PMCID: PMC10848671 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.11.e102897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
In the context of global insect decline, the urbanisation process plays a key role. However, urban pavements, which are considered to be impervious to biodiversity, can harbour ground-nesting insects under certain conditions. Recent observations have revealed the presence of Formicidae nests under urban pavements. The aim of this work is to determine the species richness of Formicidae nesting under urban pavements in the Brussels-Capital Region (Belgium) and to characterise their nest environment and soil texture. Seven ant species were identified in 120 nesting sites: Lasiusniger, Lasiusbrunneus, Lasiusflavus, Lasiusfuliginosus, Tetramoriumcaespitum, Tetramoriumimpurum and Myrmicarugulosa. Concrete slabs or natural stones with a sandy sub-layer are the main structures in which ants nest. In addition, nests were mainly found under modular pavements with degraded rigid joints. The results of this work highlight the capacity of urban structures to host part of ant biodiversity in cities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Louise Dijon
- Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech – University of Liège, TERRA, Gembloux, BelgiumFunctional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech – University of Liège, TERRAGemblouxBelgium
| | - Wouter Dekoninck
- Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, BelgiumRoyal Belgian Institute of Natural SciencesBrusselsBelgium
| | - Gilles Colinet
- Soil-Water Plant Exchanges, University of Liège, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Gembloux, BelgiumSoil-Water Plant Exchanges, University of Liège, Gembloux Agro-Bio TechGemblouxBelgium
| | - Frédéric Francis
- Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech – University of Liège, TERRA, Gembloux, BelgiumFunctional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech – University of Liège, TERRAGemblouxBelgium
| | - Grégoire Noel
- Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech – University of Liège, TERRA, Gembloux, BelgiumFunctional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech – University of Liège, TERRAGemblouxBelgium
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Abstract
Ants are highly diverse in the Iberian Peninsula (IP), both in species richness (299 cited species) and in number of endemic species (72). The Iberian ant fauna is one of the richest in the broader Mediterranean region, it is similar to the Balkan Peninsula but lower than Greece or Israel, when species richness is controlled by the surface area. In this first general study on the biogeography of Iberian ants, we propose seven chorological categories for grouping thems. Moreover, we also propose eight biogeographic refugium areas, based on the criteria of “refugia-within-refugium” in the IP. We analysed species richness, occurrence and endemism in all these refugium areas, which we found to be significantly different as far as ant similarity was concerned. Finally, we collected published evidence of biological traits, molecular phylogenies, fossil deposits and geological processes to be able to infer the most probable centre of origin and dispersal routes followed for the most noteworthy ants in the IP. As a result, we have divided the Iberian myrmecofauna into four biogeographical groups: relict, Asian-IP disjunct, Baetic-Rifan and Alpine. To sum up, our results support biogeography as being a significant factor for determining the current structure of ant communities, especially in the very complex and heterogenous IP. Moreover, the taxonomic diversity and distribution patterns we describe in this study highlight the utility of Iberian ants for understanding the complex evolutionary history and biogeography of the Iberian Peninsula.
Collapse
|
4
|
de Jong Y, Verbeek M, Michelsen V, Bjørn PDP, Los W, Steeman F, Bailly N, Basire C, Chylarecki P, Stloukal E, Hagedorn G, Wetzel FT, Glöckler F, Kroupa A, Korb G, Hoffmann A, Häuser C, Kohlbecker A, Müller A, Güntsch A, Stoev P, Penev L. Fauna Europaea - all European animal species on the web. Biodivers Data J 2014:e4034. [PMID: 25349527 PMCID: PMC4206781 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.2.e4034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2014] [Accepted: 09/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Fauna Europaea is Europe's main zoological taxonomic index, making the scientific names and distributions of all living, currently known, multicellular, European land and freshwater animals species integrally available in one authoritative database. Fauna Europaea covers about 260,000 taxon names, including 145,000 accepted (sub)species, assembled by a large network of (>400) leading specialists, using advanced electronic tools for data collations with data quality assured through sophisticated validation routines. Fauna Europaea started in 2000 as an EC funded FP5 project and provides a unique taxonomic reference for many user-groups such as scientists, governments, industries, nature conservation communities and educational programs. Fauna Europaea was formally accepted as an INSPIRE standard for Europe, as part of the European Taxonomic Backbone established in PESI. Fauna Europaea provides a public web portal at faunaeur.org with links to other key biodiversity services, is installed as a taxonomic backbone in wide range of biodiversity services and actively contributes to biodiversity informatics innovations in various initiatives and EC programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yde de Jong
- University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland ; University of Amsterdam - Faculty of Science, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Wouter Los
- University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | - Eduard Stloukal
- Department of Zoology, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Gregor Hagedorn
- Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
| | - Florian Tobias Wetzel
- Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
| | - Falko Glöckler
- Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Kroupa
- Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
| | - Günther Korb
- Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anke Hoffmann
- Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christoph Häuser
- Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Pavel Stoev
- National Museum of Natural History and Pensoft Publishers, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Lyubomir Penev
- Institute of Biodiversity & Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Pensoft Publishers, Sofia, Bulgaria ; Pensoft Publishers, Sofia, Bulgaria
| |
Collapse
|