Abstract:
In order to reveal the diversity and bio-indication role of ants in continuous fire disturbance in arid-hot valleys of Panzhihua,investigation of ground-dwelling ants communities was carried out by pitfall trappings in 3 plantations in Panzhihua City,Sichuan,China.The results indicated:① composition of ant communities:1878 ant individuals were collected, representing 4 sub-families,16 genus,and 21 species;② abundance and diversity:the abundance and species richness of ants in Panzhihua Park were the highest among 3 plantations;③ Community composition:among the 3 plantations,the structure of ant communities showed difference,but the structure of fire disturbance plots and non-fire disturbance plots in Tongde Forest Farm was relatively similar;④ Indicator species analysis:there was no indicator species in non-fire disturbance plots in Tongde Forest Farm among the three kinds of plantations.It is showed that prescribed burning could prevent large area fire,but also keep higher ant abundance and more stable ant species diversity,which is positive in protecting regional biodiversity.