Species Diversity of Ants in Two Urban Parks (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract

To compare species diversity in urban area, ant assemblages of two parks in Fukuoka city, Japan, were investigated. Momochi Chuou Kouen Park (MCP) is a newly established open land, reclaimed from the sea in 1988, while Minami Kouen Park (MKP) is an old conservation area, established in 1941 and covered mainly by broad-leaved trees. A total of 31 species were found from 16 samples, each of which was collected in a 30-min time period; 17 species in MCP, 20 species in MKP. Species accumulation curves showed that obtained species number reasonably represented species diversity in MCP, but was far from complete in MKP. This predicts that the difference between MKP and MCP in true species richness is greater than that represented by samples. MCP species composition was comprised largely of tropical/subtropical elements. MCP also included higher percentage of eurychoric species and the difference in the ratio between the 2 parks would become greater in true species richness.