蚂蚁–紫胶虫兼性互利关系对蚂蚁群落多样性的影响

Effects of facultative mutualism between ants and lac insects on the diversity of ant communities

为了探讨蚂蚁–紫胶虫兼性互利关系对树冠上蚂蚁群落多样性的影响,作者于2009年12月至2010年5月,采用目光搜寻的方法调查了不同紫胶虫数量样地(样地I有效枝条寄生率为60%、样地II为30%、样地III为10%、样地IV不放养紫胶虫)中钝叶黄檀(Dalbergiaobtusifolia)树冠蚂蚁群落的多样性。结果显示,兼性互利关系能够显著提高树冠蚂蚁群落多度及物种丰富度,改变树冠上蚂蚁的群落结构;由紫胶虫数量高低导致的蜜露产量的多寡对树冠上蚂蚁的多度和群落结构均具有显著影响,但对物种丰富度无显著影响;同时紫胶虫的个体发育阶段也是影响树冠上蚂蚁多度的重要因素。本研究证明,紫胶虫对于提高树冠上蚂蚁的多样性具有显著的正面影响,紫胶林对蚂蚁多样性保护有利。

In order to reveal the effects of facultative mutualism between ants and lac insects on the diversity of canopy ant communities, a sight-seeking method was used to investigate ant community diversity on the tree, Dalbergia obtusifolia in different plots, with infestation rates of the lac insect, Kerria yunnanensis varying on branches between 60%, 30%, 10% and 0%, respectively. The results showed that the facultative mutualism could increase the abundance and species richness of the canopy ant assembly, and also change the ant community structure. The amount of honeydew resulting from the presence of lac insect populations had a significant effect on the abundance of ant assembly, and on the community structure of canopy ants, but had no significant effect on ant species richness. Stage of lac insect life cycle was also an important factor affecting the abundance of canopy ants. It was concluded that lac insect cultivation can positively protect canopy ant assemblages and be beneficial to ant diversity conservation.