Niche-partitioning and community composition of ants in Oklahoma grasslands

Oklahoma grasslands contain diverse and complex ant communities, where they fill many important ecological niches and are critical forage taxa for reproductive and juvenile Northern Bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus). A better understanding of the ecological and behavioral factors that shape ant community composition within the diverse habitats of arid short-grass prairies will contribute to sustainable management practices conducive to conservation of bobwhite quail, which are currently in a state of decline.  Using complementary collection methods, pitfall trapping and a baiting study which mimics specific resources, this study aims to quantify niche-partitioning behaviors among ant taxa in two Oklahoma Wildlife Management Areas.  Six transects were established perpendicular to riverbeds, each with sampling sites in each of 4 distinct ecological regions at each WMA and were sampled using two sampling techniques.  Replicated baiting techniques were utilized using 5 different resource categories. Pitfall traps were established in each of the ecological regions along each transect, and all were collected during the summer of 2012 and 2013.  Significant differences in response to bait type, ecological region, and species abundance were observed.