Ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the three forests of the Ischigualasto Provincial Park, a protected area of the Monte Desert, Argentina

A survey of ant species in the Ischigualasto Provincial Park, Argentina, revealed 33 distinct ant species, with 17 representing new records for the Monte Desert and Dry Chaco ecoregions. Prosopis forests emerged as hotspots for ant diversity, hosting 24 unique species out of the 32 identified there, surpassing Ramorinoa (11 species) and Bulnesia (4 species) forests. This study significantly advances our understanding of ant biodiversity in hyper-arid desert habitats, particularly within Prosopis forests, which are critical for conserving species richness amid ongoing desertification pressures.

AMATTA, E., CALCATERRA, L. A., & GIANNONI, STELLA. M. (2018). Ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the three forests of the Ischigualasto Provincial Park, a protected area of the Monte Desert, Argentina. Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity, 19(3), 831–839. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d190311