The ant mosaic in Ghana cocoa farms: further structural considerations
(1) The distribution of ants in Ghanaian cocoa was investigated in order to gain information for an integrated control scheme for cocoa pests and diseases involving the manipulation of ant distribution. (2) Eleven out of fifty-two ant species samples by the pyrethrum knockdown method were numerous and are termed dominant ants. Numerical abundance is also reflected in terms of biomass since, on average Oecophylla longinoda, Crematogaster striatula and Macromischoides aculeatus accounted for 70.6, 13.9 and 4.6 per cent respectively of the total wet weight of the samples in which they occurred. (3) Ant distribution on cocoa and shade trees supported Majer's (1972) suggestion that the dominant ants are distributed in a three-dimensional mosaic. Both intra- and interspecific mosaics occur over limited areas. Unforaged zones or lacunae occurred in the mosaic. These were temporary occurrences and may have resulted from recently changed foraging routes, aggression between colonies or the response of ants to recent vegetational or food supply changes. (4) Radio-isotope labelling of colonies confirmed the block-like nature of Crematogaster africana-group colony distribution. The large areas dominated by intercommunicating C. striatula nests having their own queens are not a reflection of the intraspecific mosaic. The entire C. striatula area, however, constitutes a component of the interspecific ant mosaic. It is suggested that C. striatula may rely on large long-lived colonies for survival
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| Format: | biblioteca |
| Language: | eng |
| Published: |
Londres (Reino Unido): British Ecological Society,
1976
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| Subjects: | THEOBROMA CACAO, FORMICIDAE, TECNICAS DE TRAZADORES, ECOLOGIA ANIMAL, COMPORTAMIENTO, DISTRIBUCION GEOGRAFICA, DINAMICA DE POBLACIONES, CONTROL DE PLAGAS, PLANTAS DE SOMBRA, GHANA, |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.2307/2401934 |
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