Community ecology of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the central sand hills of Alberta, and a key to the ants of Alberta.

Abstract

In this study I examined ant biodiversity in Alberta. Over a two-year period, 41,791 ants were captured in pitfall traps on five sand hills in central Alberta and one adjacent aspen parkland community. Using additional collections, I produced a key to the 92 species of ants known from Alberta, Canada. The central Alberta sand hills had the highest recorded species richness (S = 35) reported in western Canada with local ant species richness inversely related to canopy cover. Forest fires occurred in the sand hills during both years of sampling, allowing me to examine the response of ants to fire. Species richness did not significantly change following fire, although individual species did change in abundance. Body size was the most influential variable in predicting changes in species abundance. This study underscores that ants in Alberta are more species-rich and have complex adaptations to disturbance.