Sampling communities of ground‐foraging ants: Pitfall catches compared with quadrat counts in an Australian tropical savanna

摘要: The relative abundances of ant species captured in pitfall traps was compared with those obtained by direct counts quadrats at a savanna site Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory. Two measures abundance were used, one based on total numbers ants, the other frequency occurrence. All commonly recorded collected traps, and their highly correlated all occasions. Of 20 most common quadrats, five occurred significantly different (in cases lower) but these represented only 1.8–3.1% quadrat counts. Results from particularly similar (r > 0.8) when species-were classified into functional groups. Frequency data may sometimes overestimate widespread, solitary foraging (e.g. ‘Chelaner’ Tetramorium spp.) underestimate large colony sizes Iridomyrmex spp.). Data ants be more prone to distortion arising differences locomotor behaviour. Species could scaled reduce distortions. finding that gave results comparable provides support for use studies Australian communities open habitats.