Standardized baitline protocol for collecting arboreal ants along tall tropical rainforest trees скачать в хорошем качестве

Standardized baitline protocol for collecting arboreal ants along tall tropical rainforest trees

Video shot in Papua New Guinea (2012), in collaboration with Byron Siki, Bonny Koane, and the local communities of Mt. Wilhelm. For full explanation see: Leponce, M., Dejean, A., Mottl, O. and Klimes, P. (2021), Rapid assessment of the three‐dimensional distribution of dominant arboreal ants in tropical forests. Insect Conserv Divers. https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12486 -------------- Bait preparation: The content of a fish tin (+/-100gr) is mixed with two large spoons of honey (sugar sirup can be used alternatively if bees are attracted and expel ants from baits). A tea spoon of the mixture is put on paper towel (10x20cm approx.). The paper towel is folded to form a small bag containing the food and attached to the rope. Baits are installed by pulling the rope. They must be in direct contact with the tree. The top bait is installed at the junction of the beginning and end of the rope forming the loop. Baits are installed every 5 meters (2, 7, 12, 17m and over, depending of the tree height). Baits are installed in the morning and collected in the afternoon. In situ aggression tests: Baits are useful to document the vertical segregation of mutually aggressive dominant ants. Confrontation tests between individuals collected on different locations can be organized in the field to delineate the extension of colonies (see map of territories of Crematogaster polita, in red, and of Oecophylla smaragdina, in green) or to confirm interspecific antagonism (here, between Cephalotes atratus and Azteca cf. chartifex in French Guiana). The presence of individuals fighting is considered as a proof of agonistic behaviour. Sometimes two species are mutually tolerant and found on the same bait (here Crematogaster muralti and Atopomyrmex mocquerysi, in D.R. Congo).