Temporal and trophic niche partitioning among arboreal ants in a Neotropical woodland savanna

• Published in: Ecological entomology
• Main Authors: Zuanon, Lino Abdelnour, Quero, Adilson, Neves, Karen Christina, Vasconcelos, Heraldo Luis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 19-09-2024
• ISSN: 0307-6946; 1365-2311
• DOI: 10.1111/een.13386

Niche partitioning is a key mechanism for explaining species coexistence, including the coexistence of ants in trees of the Brazilian savanna ( cerrado ). However, we have limited information on the extent to which arboreal ant species exploit different food resources and/or have different daily foraging schedules. We tested these ideas through a baiting experiment, and by measuring the isotopic signature (δ 15 N) and the critical thermal maximum (CT max ) of the 14 most common species found in a typical cerrado tree species. Although most species foraged on all bait types offered, species‐specific preferences were noted for about one‐third of the species. We also found a wide variation in mean δ 15 N between species, reflecting interspecific differences in trophic position. Most (71.4%) species foraged predominantly on a given period of the day, ranging from strictly nocturnal species to those that foraged mainly in the afternoon. Species with a higher heat tolerance (higher CT max ) often foraged at warmer periods of the day than those with a lower tolerance. Despite the evidence of trophic and temporal niche partitioning, other mechanisms, such as nesting site specialization and behavioural trade‐offs, are required to explain species coexistence in this arboreal ant assemblage, as several species pairs largely overlapped both in their diet and time of foraging. Importantly, our results provide additional support for the idea that physiological restriction to high temperatures is important for understanding interspecific differences in foraging activity schedules.