Species diversity and dominance-richness relationships for ground and arboreal ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) assemblages in Namibian desert, saltpan, and savannah

摘要: Namibia has high levels of invertebrate endemism, b ut biodiversity research been geographically an d taxonomically restricted. In South African savannah, species rich ness ground-foraging ant assemblages is regulate by dominant species. However, this pattern not tested in other arid regions. study, we provide a description diversity at baits three different Namibian habi tats (savannah, saltpan, and desert), test t he relationship between dominance richness for arboreal Forty-two were collected with being highest the saltpan , followed savannah then desert. Due to shared species, most similar desert, whereas similarity was due overlap ground-foragi ng Ground ants more diverse than ants, nd several observed both strata, although degree varied habitat type. The dominance-richness type sampling strata. We found unimodal but savannah. low abundance meant that unable assign dominance, possibly reduced foraging activity ca used temperatures. For ground alone, dominancerichness logarithmic, increas ing dominants leading decreasing ov erall richness. no trend ar boreal assemblage. lack consistent tre across may be result varying degrees envi ronmental stress or competition. hope preliminary sti mulates further on othe r regions Afrotropics.