Is there a refuge for ants in litter accumulated at the base of Attalea attaleoides (Barb.Rodr.) Wess.Boer (Arecaceae)

Abstract

The influence of the litter accumulated in the base of the acaulescent palm Attalea attaleoides (Barb. Rodr.) Wess. Boer on the composition of litter-dwelling ants in an upland rainforest in Central Amazon was investigated. The ant fauna was sampled from the litter of the base of 80 palms and in the open litter away from the palms. A list of 76 species identified and other 45 morphotypes is presented and their abundance is compared between microhabitats (litter trapped in the base of the palms and open litter). Our results suggests that the litter trapped in the palm base may be a refuge for non-dominant species, as the presence of aggressive ants in these microhabitats was relative rare. The litter trapped in the palm bases was occupied mostly by unaggressive predator and fungusgrower species, which probably find more prey or better conditions to cultivate their food there. © 2013, Sociedad Venezolana de Entomología.