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Stinging Ants at Gopher Tortoise Burrows

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Date Issued:
2021
Abstract/Description:
Several predatory ant species are known to attack, injure, and even kill vertebrates. Perhaps the most notorious of these are the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta and the little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata. In areas where they invade, both are most common in disturbed habitats. Solenopsis invicta often dominates open, grassy areas, while Wasmannia auropunctata more often dominates in forested areas. This study compares the distribution of ant species, including Solenopsis invicta and Wasmannia auropunctata at the burrows of Gopher Tortoises at the Abacoa Greenway located in Jupiter, Florida. Wasmannia auropunctata replaced Solenopsis invicta as the dominating species at our study site in 2021, compared to the results gathered by Rich Jones in 2013. Although both species are not selective with their targets, this shift in pattern could result in a difference of injuries to the Greenway’s inhabitants and should be considered a potential threat in future wildlife schemes.
Title: Stinging Ants at Gopher Tortoise Burrows.
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Name(s): Viluan, Valerie, author
Wetterer, James, Thesis advisor
Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Thesis
Date Created: 2021
Date Issued: 2021
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Jupiter, Florida
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 44 p.
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: Several predatory ant species are known to attack, injure, and even kill vertebrates. Perhaps the most notorious of these are the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta and the little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata. In areas where they invade, both are most common in disturbed habitats. Solenopsis invicta often dominates open, grassy areas, while Wasmannia auropunctata more often dominates in forested areas. This study compares the distribution of ant species, including Solenopsis invicta and Wasmannia auropunctata at the burrows of Gopher Tortoises at the Abacoa Greenway located in Jupiter, Florida. Wasmannia auropunctata replaced Solenopsis invicta as the dominating species at our study site in 2021, compared to the results gathered by Rich Jones in 2013. Although both species are not selective with their targets, this shift in pattern could result in a difference of injuries to the Greenway’s inhabitants and should be considered a potential threat in future wildlife schemes.
Identifier: FAUHT00163 (IID)
Degree granted: Thesis (B.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, 2021
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Sublocation: Digital Library
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUHT00163
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.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.

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