Ant assemblages (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in three different stages of forest regeneration in a fragment of Atlantic Forest in Sergipe, Brazil

In this study we compared the epigeic ant assemblages in forest fragments with three different status of plant recovery (an area reforested in 2007, another reforested in 2005 and another one of secondary forest, with over 35 years of plant regeneration), located in the municipality of Laranjeiras, Sergipe, Brazil. The ants were sampled in February (dry season) and June (rainy season) of 2012. We tested the following hypotheses: (1) the species richness of ants increases with time after the process of forest restoration; and (2) there are significant changes in species composition of ants among the three stages of forest regeneration. Twenty-five pitfall traps were installed in each area. A total of 82 morphospecies of ants were sampled, distributed in 31 genera and seven subfamilies. The richness of ants was similar among the three sites (F = 1.71, p = 0.19). The composition of ant species, however, was different in the area of late regeneration (35 years) compared to other areas of early reforestation (p < 0.05). Thus, epigeic ants were partially sensitive to changes in the habitat studied in response to reforestation, presenting changes in species composition but no differences in ant species richness among areas. We conclude that seven years after reforestation are not enough to restore the same ant diversity in disturbed environments.