Structure of Epigeic and Arboreal Ant Communities in Forest Fragments Within Agricultural Landscapes of the Brazilian Cerrado

A large portion of the Brazilian Cerrado vegetation currently exists as small, disturbed, and isolated fragments. Evaluating the degree of anthropogenic disturbance in certain environments has been successfully achieved using bioindicator insects, particularly ants. This study aims to characterize the epigeic and arboreal ant communities in Cerrado fragments in the southeastern region of Goiás, bordered by agricultural crops, during both the dry and wet seasons, and to correlate these ant communities with the structural characteristics of the forest fragments. Morphospecies richness and ant community structure across the different environments were compared, and bioindicator species were proposed using the Indicator Value (IndVal) method. The ant community structure under the evaluated conditions was significantly altered, indicating effects that extend beyond fragment-specific variables and are associated with the surrounding agricultural landscape. The IndVal analysis suggested two environmental quality indicator species for the ground stratum: Pheidole cf. radoszkowskii and Crematogaster stollii. However, it did not point to any significant indicator species for the arboreal stratum. Ants mediate various functional roles and shifts in the structure of local communities, reinforcing the importance of these insects as bioindicators of environmental quality.