青藏高原东北坡蚂蚁物种的分布格局

Distribution Pattern of Ant Species on the Northeast Slope of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

[目的]揭示青藏高原蚂蚁群落结构和分布规律。[方法]采用样地调查法研究了青藏高原东北坡蚂蚁物种分布格局。[结果]在该地区记录蚂蚁2亚科13属30种。气温、海拔、植被类型对蚂蚁物种的分布和丰富度起主要作用,低海拔地带气温较高,食物资源丰富,栖息着更多的蚂蚁物种。草丛栖息的蚂蚁物种最丰富,在土壤内筑巢和地表觅食的物种最多。光亮黑蚁(Formica candida Smith)是青藏高原东北坡分布最广泛、适应性最强的物种,可作为该地区生态环境变化的指示物种。[结论]大部分蚂蚁物种因受环境制约而分布范围较窄,生态适应能力弱,很容易因人为干扰而变得脆弱。虽然物种多样性偏低,但是在该地区栖息的蚂蚁物种和其他地方相比有明显差异,脆弱的生态系统中栖息着耐寒、耐干旱的物种,对高海拔缺氧环境表现出良好适应性,对高原生态系统土壤改良和植物种子扩散等具有重要作用。

[Objective]To reveal community composition and distribution regularity of ants on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,[Method]Distribution patterns of ant species on the northeast slope of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau were investigated through plot-sampling method.[Result]The result showed that a total of 30 ant species belonging to 2 subfamilies and 13 genera of Formicidae were recognized.Temperature,altitude,and vegetation types play major role in the distribution and richness of ant species.More ant species inhabited in the lower altitude zone with higher air temperature and richer food resources.Grass land had the richest ant species,and most ant species nested in the soil and foraged on the ground.Formica candida Smith had the strongest adaptability and the widest distribution range on the northeast slope of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,and could be used as an indicator species for the ecological changes in the region.[Conclusion]It is concluded that most ant species have narrow distribution range and weak ecological adaptability in response to the environmental constraints,and easily become fragile due to human disturbance.Although the ant species diversity is lower,the ant species inhabiting in the region are significantly different from those of other places.Fragile ecosystem is inhabited by cold-tolerant and drought-tolerant ant species,which shows outstanding adaptability to the high-altitude oxygen-deficient environment and plays an important role in soil improvement,plant seeds dispersal,etc.in the plateau ecosystem.