You are here
FAU Collections » FAU Research Repository » FAU College Collections » Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College » Honors Student Theses
Impact of reduction mowing on fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formiciade) at Gopher tortoise (Testudines: Testudinidae) burrows
- Date Issued:
- 2013
- Summary:
- Many species prey upon the threatened gopher tortoises, including the Red Imported Fir Ants Solenopsis invicta. While human alterations to native habitat have led to a decline in gopher tortoises, “disturbance specialists” like S. invicta often thrive on such changes. This study examines three ant surveys at gopher tortoise burrows within a section of residential “greenway” in southeastern Florida before and after “reduction mowing”. While the presence of S. invicta did decrease aftrer the reduction mowing, the numbers of native ants and ant species richness in general showed a significant decline. Another invasive ant, the Little Fire Ant, Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger, 1863), showed a significant increase after the mowing. While not as destructive as S. invicta, W.auropunctata has been documented to be a significant pest to many terrestrial vertebrates and should be considered a potential threat in future gopher tortoise and land management schemes.
Title: | Impact of reduction mowing on fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formiciade) at Gopher tortoise (Testudines: Testudinidae) burrows. |
124 views
29 downloads |
---|---|---|
Name(s): |
Jones, Richard Wetterer, James K. Moore, Jon Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College |
|
Type of Resource: | text | |
Genre: | Thesis | |
Date Created: | Spring 2013 | |
Date Issued: | 2013 | |
Publisher: | Florida Atlantic University | |
Place of Publication: | Boca Raton, Fla. | |
Physical Form: | ||
Extent: | 38 p. | |
Language(s): | English | |
Summary: | Many species prey upon the threatened gopher tortoises, including the Red Imported Fir Ants Solenopsis invicta. While human alterations to native habitat have led to a decline in gopher tortoises, “disturbance specialists” like S. invicta often thrive on such changes. This study examines three ant surveys at gopher tortoise burrows within a section of residential “greenway” in southeastern Florida before and after “reduction mowing”. While the presence of S. invicta did decrease aftrer the reduction mowing, the numbers of native ants and ant species richness in general showed a significant decline. Another invasive ant, the Little Fire Ant, Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger, 1863), showed a significant increase after the mowing. While not as destructive as S. invicta, W.auropunctata has been documented to be a significant pest to many terrestrial vertebrates and should be considered a potential threat in future gopher tortoise and land management schemes. | |
Identifier: | FA00003519 (IID) | |
Note(s): |
Includes bibliography. Thesis (B.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, 2013. |
|
Held by: | Florida Atlantic University Libraries | |
Sublocation: | FAU Digital Library | |
Persistent Link to This Record: | http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00003519 | |
Use and Reproduction: | Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder. | |
Host Institution: | FAU |