Ant species but not trait diversity increases at the edges: insights from a micro‐scale gradient in a semi‐natural Mediterranean ecosystem

• DOI: 10.1111/een.13020
• Publication Date: 2021-02-14T17:56:12Z
• Authors: Clara Frasconi Wendt; Filippo Frizzi; Giulia Aiello; Paride Balzani; Giacomo Santini
• Keywords: Lasius

1. Different habitat types are generally associated with shifts in ant species and traits, even along a micro‐scale woodland–grassland gradient, biodiversity may change at the edge proximities as result of abiotic alterations. However, to best authors' knowledge, changes diversity this type gradient understudied, especially from functional perspective. 2. The authors sampled eight gradients Mediterranean ecosystem, each comprising 16 m, assess how diversity, community composition, structure, single‐ multi‐trait two adjacent habitats (woodland grassland) distance increases. 3. No differences richness, composition were found within woodland grassland habitats. Distance into explained structure which mainly increased habitat; body length, leg sugar‐based diet, dominant behaviour, grassland. Along edges showed highest that resulted overlap communities 4. This study shed light on traits it highlights importance integrating different approaches (functional taxonomic) micro‐spatial scale.