Diversity, relative abundance and functional group composition of ant community in a dry deciduous forest of the South Western Ghats, India

A short-term field study was conducted to document the species diversity and abundance of ants in a deciduous forest in the South Western Ghats (Chinnar, Idukki, Kerala), India. In the present study, 22 species from 18 genera and 06 subfamilies of ants were recorded. The Myrmicinae subfamily had the most species (09), followed by Formicinae (07), Ponerinae (03), Dolichoderinae (01), Dorylinae (01), and Pseudomyrmicinae (01). The genus Camponotus had the most species (3), followed by Monomorium (2) and Pheidole (2), with the remaining genera each having one species. Camponotus compressus, Solenopsis geminata, and Oecophylla smaragdina were the three most common ant species, with Technomyrmex elatior, Leptogenys chinensis, and Odontomachus sp. being the least common (0.4%). The most abundant functional group of ants was the Tropical climate Specialists (6 species), followed by Opportunists and Generalised Myrmicinae (5 species each). Subordinate Camponotini (4 species), Specialist Predators (1 species), and Hot climate Specialists (1 species) were detected as other functional groups of ants in the study area. Overall, the study area holds good ant species diversity, which is even in composition. The present study provides useful information on the composition of the ant community in the South Western Ghats in India.