巢居蚂蚁更倾向于在人造光源附近定居繁殖

光污染被认为是“环境陷阱”, 可以聚集周围的昆虫。而昆虫的聚集和光源本身可能会吸引捕食性昆虫在光源附近定居繁殖, 从而改变昆虫群落的结构, 威胁昆虫多样性和生态系统服务功能。蚂蚁(膜翅目)是昆虫中的优势类群, 能提供多种生态系统服务功能, 其中有许多巢居型蚂蚁利用中空的树枝或者竹子筑巢繁殖, 是森林中非常重要的捕食者和分解者。然而, 光污染对巢居蚂蚁群落的影响尚不清楚。本研究以巢居蚂蚁为研究对象, 探究在雨季和干季3种不同生境(原始林、次生林、橡胶林)中发光二极管(LED灯)在空间距离上对巢居蚂蚁筑巢模式以及群落组成的影响。我们在3种生境中共安装了15个LED灯, 并在距离光源0 m、10 m、50 m和100 m处设置不同入口大小的人工竹巢, 7周后回收。竹巢中共发现蚂蚁40种形态种, 隶属于12个属, 其中弓背蚁属(Camponotus)是优势属。接近光源处的竹巢占用率最高, 且在干季最明显; 在远离光源处(10-100 m)占用率较低, 并且在3种不同的生境呈现相同的模式。竹巢入口大小对竹巢占用率没有显著影响。雨季和干季的蚂蚁群落组成差异显著; 干季原始林和次生林、次生林和橡胶林蚂蚁群落组成有弱显著差异; 在3种生境中不同灯距下蚂蚁群落组成没有显著差异。我们的研究表明, 光污染增加了巢居蚂蚁在光源处的筑巢密度, 影响蚂蚁群落组成和空间分布。

Cavity-dwelling ants tend to colonize close to artificial light

Aim: Light pollution is considered as an “environmental trap” that can attract insects from surrounding areas. Increased availability of insects and the presence of light itself may attract predators to colonize and nests near to the artificial lights, potentially altering insect diversity and ecosystem services. Ants (Formicidae: Hymenoptera) are one of the dominant predatory insects, and many cavity-dwelling ants use hollow branches or bamboo to build nests and reproduction. Despite their significance in predation and other ecosystem functions, the effects of light pollution on nesting ant communities remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of light-emitting diodes (LED) on nesting patterns and community composition in three different habitats (primary forest, secondary forest, and rubber plantation) in rainy and dry seasons.