DIVERSITY AND FUNCTIONS OF ANTS (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) IN BANGABANDHU SHEIKH MUJIBUR RAHMAN AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY CAMPUS OF BANGLADESH

• DOI: 10.26480/taec.01.2022.27.33
• Publication Date: 2022-12-27T04:02:31Z
• Authors: Md. Mamunur Rahman; Jakia Sultana; Md. Ahsanul Haque...; Tofayel Ahamed; Jahidul Hassan
• Keywords: Diversity index; Myrmicinae; Agroecosystem; Gamma diversity

Ants play a crucial role as ecosystem engineers and natural enemies of insect pests in different forests agroecosystems. Bangladesh’s varied agroecosystem harbors diverse ant community, it can be utilized to track recent changes the agricultural environment. However, it’s utilization is deemed due insufficient taxonomic checklist fauna their diversity pattern various ecosystems Bangladesh. This research aimed measure functional ants an agroecosystem. Sampling was done by time-unit sampling (TUS) during March- April 2021 cropland habitats Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU) campus. A total 172 individuals 20 genera under 5 subfamilies were identified, which Myrmicinae richest subfamily with 9 genera, while Camponotus most dominant genus ecosystem. Four from BSMRAU campus significantly contributed on species richness matrix revealed through Principal component analysis (PCA). The identified explained using results retrieved Shannon Diversity Index, Species Evenness index Effective number (ENS). Shannon-Wiener Field pathway (2.5202) highest, followed Entomology field (2.38086), agroforestry (1.37315) lowest rice (0.16794). had highest value comprising several types vegetation alongside non-ploughed soil. Rice has only crops that grown wetland; hence, water causes value. evenness (>0.75) implies probability stable communities all tested except (0.242), indicates depressed community structure strengthened ENS 12.4, 10.8, 3.9, 1.18 pathway, entomology field, respectively. findings generated comprehensive indices indicator land type transformation restoration Bangladesh for future research.