Threats to Ant Diversity in Mesoamerica

Ants are ecosystem engineers and a major component of the insect fauna in the Neotropics, impacting communities in numerous important ways. Although measurements that would reveal cases of decline or extinction have yet to be made, numerous ant species are of conservation concern. We give examples of four categories: (1) species whose intrinsic behavioral characteristics, such as the large nomadic army ants and ants involved in specialized mutualisms with plants, make them susceptible to extinction; (2) species subject to mountaintop extinction due to climate change; (3) species that have very small geographic ranges (narrow endemics); and (4) species whose phylogenetic distinctness elevates their conservation value.