Community structure and species diversity of ants in Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province.

Ant specimens of 4 subfamilies,11 genera and 14 species were collected through traping and sample plot methods in Xuzhou area,Jiangsu.The dominant species were Tetramorium caespitum,Messor aciculatus,Monomorium chinense and Camponotus japonicus.The first two species were widely distributed over the study area.Species composition,species diversity,and similarity of ant communities in seven habitats were analyzed,and the influence of human activity and habitat heterogeneity on them were examined.We found that species composition and diversity index of ant communities were significantly different in the seven habitats.The number of species,Shannon-wiener index(H′) and Pielou index(J) in deciduous pine and cypress forest were the highest,while the diversity index in vegetable and garden farmlands was the lowest.The highest diversity index was observed in the habitats with high quality and high heterogeneity.Similarities of ant communities between dry farmlands and rice farmlands and vegetable and garden farmlands and residential districts were much more higher than others.