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Harvard Forest REU Symposium Abstract 2018
- Title: Do Deciduous Trees Make More Ants? Tree productivity and ant biodiversity in New England Forests
- Author: Maggie I Anderson (Lawrence University)
- Abstract:
Energy availability has long been considered a limiting factor of biodiversity. However, this relationship between species diversity and ecosystem energy availability remains poorly understood. The Energy Limitation Hypothesis states that the rate at which energy enters an ecosystem limits the species diversity in an area by limiting the density of individuals. Previous studies have applied this hypothesis to ant assemblages on a global scale but have not yet tested it within a single forest ecosystem. Tree productivity contributes largely to ecosystem functionality and rates of net primary production (NPP) can be used to estimate ecosystem energy availability in forest ecosystems. Our project examines the relationship between tree NPP and species diversity of New England ant species. We found that rates of NPP were higher in deciduous trees –particularly red oaks– and that higher tree productivity was associated with higher ant species diversity. Our results suggest that ant taxa are better able to make nests and forage in the energy-rich leaf litter surrounding deciduous trees. We therefore expect to see increased ant species diversity and changes in community composition as hardwood trees succeed stands of softwood trees –especially Eastern Hemlocks– in the forests of New England.
- Research Category: Group Projects; Conservation and Management; Biodiversity Studies
