Species Diversity of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) at the Mixed Deciduous Forest in Phanom Rung Historical Park, Buriram Province

Abstract

Species diversity of ants was studied at the mixed deciduous forest in Phanom Rung
Historical Park, Buriram Province during February 2008 to September 2009. The method of
systematic random sampling was used in the survey for sample collection. These specimens were
classified into 5 subfamilies belonging to 16 genera and 25 species. There were 4 species of ants in
Dolichoderinae, 6 species of subfamily Formicinae, 8 species in subfamily Myrmicinae, 6 species in
subfamily Ponerinae and 2 species in subfamily Pseudomyrmecinae. In this study, the subfamily
Myrmicinae had the highest number of species while the ants in the subfamily Formicinae:
Anoplolepis gracilipes (F.Smith, 1857) and Oecophylla smaragdina (Fabricius, 1775) were the most
abundant species. The species diversity index using Shannon ??? Wiener and Pielou's indices showed
the highest degree (J/ = 0.848). The dominant index does not show any dominant species (C =
0.459). The abundant of food sources and shelters in the studied site resulted in the diverse of ant
species.

Keywords: species diversity, ants, mixed deciduous forest, Phanom Rung Historical Park