Provisional checklist and habitat preferences of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Halych national park, Ukraine
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15330/jpnubio.12.74-86Keywords:
insects, biodiversity, fauna, natural habitats, invasive species, conservation areas, climate changeAbstract
Abstract: A total of 37 ant species were identified from Halych national park, significantly enriching knowledge of its local myrmecofauna. Combined with literature data, 48 species are now known from the national park. The most abundant taxa were Formica cunicularia, Formica glauca, Lasius flavus, Lasius niger, Lasius platythorax, Myrmica rubra, Myrmica ruginodis, and Tetramorium ferox. Four species – Monomorium pharaonis, Hypoponera punctatissima, Aphaenogaster splendida, and Plagiolepis taurica – were recorded as exceptional findings, likely linked to human introduction or climate-driven northward range shifts. Notably, only solitary reproductive individuals (males or females) of these species were found, indicating possible anthropogenic dispersal through livestock feed, building materials, or trade goods. Habitat analysis revealed that the greatest species richness occurred in human-altered ecosystems – 26 species in fallow lands and 18 in post-forest mesophilous meadows – while forests, wetlands, riparian zones, and steppes hosted fewer but distinct assemblages. Widespread, ecologically plastic species such as L. niger, M. rubra, M. ruginodis, and F. cunicularia dominated most habitats. The study highlights both the high diversity and vulnerability of the Park’s ant fauna to human influence and climate change. Continued monitoring is essential for understanding invasion pathways, conserving native biodiversity, and guiding effective management strategies
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Copyright (c) 2025 Yaroslav-Yurii Kasicki, Maria Bureiko, Viktoria Malaniy, Anna Mokhniak, Oleksandr Piddubnyi, Andrew Zamoroka
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