Habitat contrasts reveal a shift in the trophic position of ant assemblages

摘要: Summary 1. Trophic structure within a guild can be influenced by factors such as resource availability and competition. While ants occupy wide range of positions in food webs, ant community composition changes with habitat, it is not well understood if genera tend to maintain their position the trophic structure, or varies across habitats. 2. We used ratios stable isotopes carbon nitrogen test for differences assemblages among habitat types. We tested between replicate sites land use categories: (i) pastures old large trees; (ii) recently revegetated small young (iii) remnant woodlands. Known insect herbivores predatory spiders provided baselines herbivorous predaceous arthropods. Soil samples were correct base level isotopic enrichment at each site. 3. We found no significant interactions genus isotope enrichment, indicating that conserved categories. The fixed relative might re-enforced competition some other factor. However, entire assemblage had significantly lower δ15N values sites, suggesting feed down chain i.e. they are more ‘herbivorous’ sites. This may result high plant sugars, honeydew arthropod prey. 4. Surprisingly, remnants trees displayed similar compositions. Interactions thus likely resilient use, but diets early successional habitats reflect simplicity communities, which have comparatively rates saprophagy predation.