Effect of ant-hills on the floristic richness of plant communities of a large depression in the Great Chaco

The effect of ant-hills of Camponotus punctulatus (Mayr.) on the floristic riebness of plant eommunities in the southem Chaco is analized. The ant-hills are conical mounds with an average height of 0.6 m and a diameter of 1.0 m. Ant-hills produce an inerease in quadrat floristic riehness, but in any...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Lewis, Juan P, Franceschi, A, Stofella, Susana L
Formato: Online
Idioma:eng
Publicado: Universidad de Costa Rica 1991
Acceso en línea:https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rbt/article/view/24567
Descripción
Sumario:The effect of ant-hills of Camponotus punctulatus (Mayr.) on the floristic riebness of plant eommunities in the southem Chaco is analized. The ant-hills are conical mounds with an average height of 0.6 m and a diameter of 1.0 m. Ant-hills produce an inerease in quadrat floristic riehness, but in any given community a low percentage of species grow exclusively or preferentially on the ant-hill. Therefore the effeet of ant-bills over the floristic riebness of the community is less marked than over the quadrat floristic richness. Ant-hill exclusives or preferential species are rarities, i.e. with less than 20 % constaney, in any community. Ant-hills provide refugia for species to grow in environments otherwise unsuitable for them.