Journal of Environment and Sociobiology

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Species Richness And Seasonal Variation In Ground Foraging Ants (hymenoptera: Formicidae) Of Baruipur Area, Southern West Bengal, India


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1 Department of Zoology, Sonarpur Mahavidyalaya, Kolkata-700149, India
     

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Ants are one of the most abundant insects in terrestrial habitats and are also important components in the ecosystems. A study of the species composition, seasonal fluctuation and population sizes of ant fauna was carried out in suburban farmland areas of Baruipur, West Bengal in 2016. A one-year sampling using different traps, and hand picking revealed a total of 2956 individuals consisting of 11 species belonging to 9 genera of four subfamilies, viz., Myrmecinae (6 spp.), Formicinae (2 spp.), Ponerinae (2 spp.) and Cerapachyinae (1 sp.). Maximum number of species and individuals were recorded during rainy and summer seasons, and minimum during the winter season. Incidence of availability of the individuals and species in different seasons were highly linked with the resource availability in ecosystem and adaptability of ants with their surroundings.

Keywords

Species composition, Seasonal fluctuation, Environmental factors, Ants.
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  • Species Richness And Seasonal Variation In Ground Foraging Ants (hymenoptera: Formicidae) Of Baruipur Area, Southern West Bengal, India

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Authors

Mahuya Patra Purkait
Department of Zoology, Sonarpur Mahavidyalaya, Kolkata-700149, India

Abstract


Ants are one of the most abundant insects in terrestrial habitats and are also important components in the ecosystems. A study of the species composition, seasonal fluctuation and population sizes of ant fauna was carried out in suburban farmland areas of Baruipur, West Bengal in 2016. A one-year sampling using different traps, and hand picking revealed a total of 2956 individuals consisting of 11 species belonging to 9 genera of four subfamilies, viz., Myrmecinae (6 spp.), Formicinae (2 spp.), Ponerinae (2 spp.) and Cerapachyinae (1 sp.). Maximum number of species and individuals were recorded during rainy and summer seasons, and minimum during the winter season. Incidence of availability of the individuals and species in different seasons were highly linked with the resource availability in ecosystem and adaptability of ants with their surroundings.

Keywords


Species composition, Seasonal fluctuation, Environmental factors, Ants.

References