| 【Objective】The distribution characteristics of ant mound of Solenopsis invicta under different habitats in
northern Guangdong were studied to provide scientific basis for the surveillance and control of S. invicta.【Method】The
quadrat method was used to investigate the density and size of ant mound of S. invicta under three different habitats (i.e.,
wasteland, ridge and lawn), and the spatial distribution pattern of ant mound was analyzed by aggregation index method and
Taylor power law. Moreover, the correlation analysis was conducted to explore the relationship between ant mound density
and plant diversity on wasteland. 【Result】The ant mound density on the ridge was up to 18.67 mounds per 100 square
meters (over ten times than that on lawn), which was significantly higher than that on wasteland and lawn. The perimeter of
basal ant mound was similar in these three habitats, but the height of ant nest on wasteland was higher than that on ridge
and lawn. Based on the results of aggregation indices and Taylor power law, the spatial distribution pattern of ant mound
on wasteland and ridge basically belonged to uniform or random distribution, but the ant mound tended to be aggregateddistribution on lawn. Besides, the invasion of S. invicta in northern Guangdong has not caused a decline of plant diversity on
wasteland.【Conclusion】Affected by factors such as human disturbance, the order of occurrence degree of S. invicta from
severe to moderate under different habitats in northern Guangdong was ridge, wasteland and lawn. The spatial pattern of ant
mound was basically aggregated distribution on lawn but tended to be uniform or random distribution on wasteland and ridge,
such differences in distribution were mainly caused by human disturbance and nesting habits of S. invicta. The ant mound
density of S. invicta was positively correlated with the plant biodiversity on wasteland, but the correlation was not significant. |
