Community composition and niche partitioning behaviors of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in arid grasslands of western Oklahoma

Ants, which are both abundant and diverse in arid grassland settings, fill many important ecological niches and comprise one of the predominant forage taxa for reproductive and juvenile Northern Bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus). Community composition of ants in Western Oklahoma grasslands is currently poorly understood. A better understanding of the ecological and behavioral factors that shape ant community composition within the diverse habitats of arid short-grass prairie will contribute to sustainable management practices conducive to conservation of bobwhite quail, which are currently in a state of decline.  Diversity of vegetative structure and species composition, physical habitat gradients, differences in resource utilization and dominance interactions are among the factors that contribute to these prolific and complex assemblages of ant taxa.  This study aims to quantify niche-partitioning behaviors among ant taxa in the Beaver Wildlife Management Area of the Oklahoma panhandle region. Transects were established perpendicular to the riverbed, spanning the range of ecotones (ecoregions) from the riparian zone to upland dunes and were sampled using two sampling techniques.  Replicated baiting techniques were utilized at two different times of day, using 5 different resource categories. Pitfall traps were also established in each of the ecotones within the transects, and were collected triweekly from May – September 2012.  Vegetation and physical soil parameters were documented within sampling regimens.  Preliminary results indicate significant differences in ant total abundance in response to bait type and significant differences in ant total abundance related to habitat differences among the 4 ecoregions that span the transects.