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Dominance–diversity relationships in ant communities differ with invasion
Author(s) -
Arnan Xavier,
Andersen Alan N.,
Gibb Heloise,
Parr Catherine L.,
Sanders Nathan J.,
Dunn Robert R.,
Angulo Elena,
Baccaro Fabricio B.,
Bishop Tom R.,
Boulay Raphaël,
Castracani Cristina,
Cerdá Xim,
Toro Israel Del,
Delsinne Thibaut,
Donoso David A.,
Elten Emilie K.,
Fayle Tom M.,
Fitzpatrick Matthew C.,
Gómez Crisanto,
Grasso Donato A.,
Grossman Blair F.,
Guénard Benoit,
Gunawardene Nihara,
Heterick Brian,
Hoffmann Benjamin D.,
Janda Milan,
Jenkins Clinton N.,
Klimes Petr,
Lach Lori,
Laeger Thomas,
Leponce Maurice,
Lucky Andrea,
Majer Jonathan,
Menke Sean,
Mezger Dirk,
Mori Alessandra,
Moses Jimmy,
Munyai Thinandavha Caswell,
Paknia Omid,
Pfeiffer Martin,
Philpott Stacy M.,
Souza Jorge L.P.,
Tista Melanie,
Vasconcelos Heraldo L.,
Retana Javier
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
global change biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.146
H-Index - 255
eISSN - 1365-2486
pISSN - 1354-1013
DOI - 10.1111/gcb.14331
Subject(s) - species richness , dominance (genetics) , ecology , competitive exclusion , biology , generality , competition (biology) , psychology , biochemistry , psychotherapist , gene
Abstract The relationship between levels of dominance and species richness is highly contentious, especially in ant communities. The dominance‐impoverishment rule states that high levels of dominance only occur in species‐poor communities, but there appear to be many cases of high levels of dominance in highly diverse communities. The extent to which dominant species limit local richness through competitive exclusion remains unclear, but such exclusion appears more apparent for non‐native rather than native dominant species. Here we perform the first global analysis of the relationship between behavioral dominance and species richness. We used data from 1,293 local assemblages of ground‐dwelling ants distributed across five continents to document the generality of the dominance‐impoverishment rule, and to identify the biotic and abiotic conditions under which it does and does not apply. We found that the behavioral dominance–diversity relationship varies greatly, and depends on whether dominant species are native or non‐native, whether dominance is considered as occurrence or relative abundance, and on variation in mean annual temperature. There were declines in diversity with increasing dominance in invaded communities, but diversity increased with increasing dominance in native communities. These patterns occur along the global temperature gradient. However, positive and negative relationships are strongest in the hottest sites. We also found that climate regulates the degree of behavioral dominance, but differently from how it shapes species richness. Our findings imply that, despite strong competitive interactions among ants, competitive exclusion is not a major driver of local richness in native ant communities. Although the dominance‐impoverishment rule applies to invaded communities, we propose an alternative dominance‐diversification rule for native communities.