Review Article

Ants as Indicators in Brazil: A Review with Suggestions to Improve the Use of Ants in Environmental Monitoring Programs

Table 2

Species of ants defined as indicators, indicating the parameter used by the authors (Parameter) when linking each ant species to each habitat type (Habitat) and the paper (Reference).

Ant speciesParameterHabitatReference

Acanthognathus brevicornisFrequency of occurrenceSecondary forest and area at early successionSilva et al. [75]
Acanthognathus ocellatus Frequency of occurrencePrimary forestSilva et al. [75]
Acanthognathus rudisFrequency of occurrencePrimary forestSilva et al. [75]
Acanthoponera mucronataFrequency of occurrenceNative forest remnantIlha et al. [48]

Acromyrmex balzaniPresence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]
Presence/absenceLow human land-use-impacted sitesDelabie et al. [35]
Presence/absenceUndisturbed sites—control siteDiehl et al. [58]

Acromyrmex coronatusFrequency of occurrenceForest fragmentsLapola and Fowler [49]
Frequency of occurrencePreserved savannaRamos et al. [37]

Acromyrmex lobicornisPresence/absenceUndisturbed sites—control siteDiehl et al. [58]
Acromyrmex lundiFrequency of occurrenceSecondary forestSchmidt and Diehl [52]
Acromyrmex niger Presence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]
Acromyrmex rugosusFrequency of occurrenceTurnera ulmifolia fieldSantana-Reis and Santos [51]
Acromyrmex striatusPresence/absenceUndisturbed sites—control siteDiehl et al. [58]
Acromyrmex subterraneusFrequency of occurrenceForest fragmentsLapola and Fowler [49]
Acromyrmex subterraneus brunneusPresence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]
Acromyrmex subterraneus subterraneusPresence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]
Acropyga decedensFrequency of occurrencePastureDias et al. [45]

Amblyopone armigeraFrequency of occurrencePreserved savannaRamos et al. [37]
Presence/absenceSavanna—cerrado sensu strictoMarinho et al. [50]
Frequency of occurrenceSecondary forest and area at early successionSilva et al. [75]

Amblyopone elongata Frequency of occurrencePrimary forestSilva et al. [75]
Anochetus diegensisFrequency of occurrencePreserved savannaRamos et al. [37]
Anochetus mayriFrequency of occurrenceControl site (nonburnt)Teixeira et al. [39]
Anochetus neglectusFrequency of occurrencePastureDias et al. [45]
Anochetus targioniiFrequency of occurrencePastureDias et al. [45]
Apterostigma acreFrequency of occurrenceForest fragmentDias et al. [45]
Apterostigma bolivianum Frequency of occurrenceForest fragmentDias et al. [45]
Atta robustaFrequency of occurrenceControl site (nonburnt)Teixeira et al. [39]

Atta sexdens rubropilosaPresence/absenceArea at early successionCoelho et al. [60]
Frequency of occurrenceDisturbed savannaRamos et al. [37]
Presence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]

Azteca alfariPresence/absenceArea at late succession stage—dry seasonNeves et al. [73]
Azteca muelleriFrequency of occurrenceControl site (nonburnt)Teixeira et al. [39]
Basiceros discigerFrequency of occurrenceForest fragmentsLapola and Fowler [49]
Blepharidatta brasiliensisFrequency of occurrenceArea at late succession stageVasconcelos [76]
Brachymyrmex coactusFrequency of occurrenceSecondary forest and area at early successionSilva et al. [75]
Camponotus arboreusFrequency of occurrenceControl site (nonburnt)Teixeira et al. [39]
Camponotus atricepsPresence/absenceReforestated area at intermediate succession stageCoelho et al. [60]
Camponotus bidensPresence/absenceLow human land-use-impacted sitesDelabie et al. [67
Camponotus burtoniPresence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]
Camponotus claviscapusPresence/absenceUndisturbed sitesDelabie et al. [35]

Camponotus crassusPresence/absenceBurned restingaEndringer et al. [38]
Frequency of occurrenceBurnt siteTeixeira et al. [39]
Frequency of occurrenceDisturbed sitesDiehl et al. [58]
Frequency of occurrenceSecondary forest and forest edgeLeal et al. [71]
IndValSavanna—vegetation and ground stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]

Camponotus  fastigatusFrequency of occurrencePreserved savannaRamos et al. [37]

Camponotus  latangulusFrequency of occurrencePreserved savannaRamos et al. [37]
Presence/absenceSavanna—cerrado sensu strictoMarinho et al. [50]

Camponotus leydigiFrequency of occurrenceArea at early successionVasconcelos [76]

Camponotus melanoticusPresence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]
Frequency of occurrencePastureDias et al. [45]
Presence/absenceArea at early successionCoelho et al. [60]

Camponotus novogranadensisFrequency of occurrenceArea at early successionVasconcelos [76]
Presence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]
IndValForest—vegetation and ground stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]
Frequency of occurrenceDisturbed savannaRamos et al. [37]

Camponotus punctatus minutiorFrequency of occurrencePreserved savannaRamos et al. [37]
Camponotus renggeriPresence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]

Camponotus rufipesFrequency of occurrenceDisturbed savannaRamos et al. [37]
Presence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]
Frequency of occurrenceForest fragmentsLapola and Fowler [49]

Camponotus sericeiventrisFrequency of occurrenceNative forest remnantIlha et al. [48]

Camponotus trapezoideusFrequency of occurrenceBurnt siteTeixeira et al. [39]
Frequency of occurrenceForest fragmentDias et al. [45]
Frequency of occurrencePreserved savannaRamos et al. [37]

Camponotus  vitatusPresence/absenceLow human land-use-impacted sitesDelabie et al. [35]
Camponotus westermanniPresence/absenceStrong human land-used-impacted sitesDelabie et al. [35]
Cardiocondyla obscuriorPresence/absenceArea at intermediate successionCoelho et al. [60]
Carebara urichiFrequency of occurrencePreserved savannaRamos et al. [37]

Cephalotes  atratusFrequency of occurrenceControl site (nonburnt)Teixeira et al. [39]
IndValForest—vegetation stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]

Cephalotes grandinosusPresence/absenceForestLopes et al. [81]

Cephalotes minutusPresence/absenceArea at early succession—dry seasonNeves et al. [73]
Presence/absenceLow human land-use-impacted sitesDelabie et al. [35]

Cephalotes pallidicephalusPresence/absenceLow human land-use-impacted sitesDelabie et al. [35]
Cephalotes pavoniiFrequency of occurrenceBurnt siteTeixeira et al. [39]
Cephalotes pellansPresence/absenceArea at intermediate succession—wet seasonNeves et al. [73]
Cephalotes pusillusIndValSavanna—vegetation and ground stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]
Cephalotes simillimusIndValSavanna—vegetation stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]
Crematogaster brasiliensisIndValForest—vegetation and ground stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]

Crematogaster erectaPresence/absenceArea at intermediate successionCoelho et al. [60]
IndValSavanna—vegetation and ground stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]

Crematogaster limataIndValForest—vegetation and ground stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]
Crematogaster minutissimaIndValForest—ground stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]
Crematogaster nigropilosaFrequency of occurrenceNative forest remnantIlha et al. [48]
Crematogaster quadriformisIndValSavanna—ground stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]

Cyphomyrmex laevigatusFrequency of occurrenceForest fragmentsLapola and Fowler [49]
Cyphomyrmex majorFrequency of occurrenceForest fragmentsLapola and Fowler [49]
Cyphomyrmex olitorFrequency of occurrencePrimary forestSilva et al. [75]

Cyphomyrmex peltatusFrequency of occurrenceDisturbed savannaRamos et al. [37]
Presence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]
Frequency of occurrenceForest fragmentsDias et al. [45]

Cyphomyrmex plaumanniFrequency of occurrencePrimary forestSilva et al. [75]

Cyphomyrmex salviniFrequency of occurrenceArea at early successionVasconcelos [76]
Frequency of occurrenceControl site (nonburnt)Teixeira et al. [39]

Cyphomyrmex transversusFrequency of occurrencePreserved savannaRamos et al. [37]

Discothyrea sexarticulataFrequency of occurrenceForest fragmentDias et al. [45]
Frequency of occurrencePrimary forestSilva et al. [75]

Dolichoderus attelaboidesIndValForest—vegetation stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]
Dolichoderus bispinosusIndValForest—vegetation stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]
Dolichoderus schulziPresence/absenceUndisturbed sitesDelabie et al. [35]
Dolichoderus voraginosusPresence/absenceArea at early succession—dry seasonNeves et al. [73]
Dorymyrmex guianensisIndValSavanna—ground stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]

Dorymyrmex pyramicusFrequency of occurrenceBurnt siteTeixeira et al. [39]
Presence/absenceUndisturbed sitesDelabie et al. [35]

Dorymyrmex thoracicusIndValSavanna—ground stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]
Eciton quadriglumeFrequency of occurrenceForest fragmentsLapola and Fowler [49]

Ectatomma brunneumPresence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]
Frequency of occurrenceArea at early successionBraga et al. [54]
Presence/absenceLow human land-use-impacted sitesDelabie et al. [35]

Ectatomma edentatumFrequency of occurrencePreserved savannaRamos et al. [37]

Ectatomma lugensFrequency of occurrenceArea at late succession stageVasconcelos [76]
IndValForest—ground stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]

Ectatomma muticumFrequency of occurrenceControl site (nonburnt)Teixeira et al. [39]
Ectatomma opaciventreIndValSavanna—ground stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]

Ectatomma permagnumFrequency of occurrenceControl site (nonburnt)Teixeira et al. [39]
Frequency of occurrenceEucalyptus forestryBraga et al. [54]
Presence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]

Ectatomma planidensFrequency of occurrenceDisturbed savannaRamos et al. [37]
Presence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]

Ectatomma quadridensFrequency of occurrenceArea at early successionVasconcelos [76]

Ectatomma tuberculatumFrequency of occurrenceArea at early successionSilva et al. [75]
Presence/absenceBurned restingaEndringer et al. [38]
Presence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]
Frequency of occurrenceArea at late succession stageBraga et al. [54]
Frequency of occurrenceSecondary forest and forest edgeLeal et al. [71]

Forelius maranhoensisIndValSavanna—ground stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]
Gnamptogenys acuminataFrequency of occurrenceForest fragmentsLapola and Fowler [49]
Gnamptogenys continuaFrequency of occurrencePrimary forestSilva et al. [75]
Gnamptogenys horniFrequency of occurrenceArea at late succession stageVasconcelos [76]
Gnamptogenys mediatrixFrequency of occurrenceForest fragmentDias et al. [45]

Gnamptogenys moelleriFrequency of occurrencePastureDias et al. [45]
Frequency of occurrenceSecondary forest and area at early successionSchmidt and Diehl [52]

Gnamptogenys reichenspergeriFrequency of occurrencePrimary forestSilva et al. [75]

Gnamptogenys striatulaPresence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]
IndValForest—ground stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]

Gnamptogenys sulcataPresence/absenceArea at early succession—wet seasonNeves et al. [73]
Gnamptogenys tortuolosaFrequency of occurrenceIntermediate disturbed areaVasconcelos [76]
Heteroponera flavaFrequency of occurrenceForest fragmentDias et al. [45]
Heteroponera micropsFrequency of occurrenceDisturbed habitat (Eucalyptus)Ilha et al. [48]
Hylomyrma balzaniFrequency of occurrenceForest fragmentsLapola and Fowler [49]
Hylomyrma reitteriFrequency of occurrenceForest fragmentsLapola and Fowler [49]
Hypoponera foedaFrequency of occurrenceNative forest remnantIlha et al. [48]
Hypoponera foreliFrequency of occurrencePreserved savannaRamos et al. [37]
Hypoponera opaciorFrequency of occurrenceDisturbed habitat (Eucalyptus)Ilha et al. [48]

Labidus coecusFrequency of occurrenceForest fragmentsLapola and Fowler [49]
Presence/absenceUndisturbed sitesDelabie et al. [35]

Labidus praedatorFrequency of occurrenceDisturbed savannaRamos et al. [37]
Presence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]
Frequency of occurrenceSecondary forestSchmidt and Diehl [52]

Leptogenys pusillaFrequency of occurrenceControl site (nonburnt)Teixeira et al. [39]
Leptothorax asperPresence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]
Leptothorax spininodisPresence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]

Linepithema humileFrequency of occurrenceBurnt siteTeixeira et al. [39]
Frequency of occurrenceDisturbed savannaRamos et al. [37]
Presence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]
Frequency of occurrenceForest fragmentsLapola and Fowler [49]

Megalomyrmex goeldiiFrequency of occurrenceArea at early successionSilva et al. [75]
Mycetagroicus cerradensisFrequency of occurrenceDisturbed savannaRamos et al. [37]
Mycetarotes paralelusPresence/absenceArea revegetated with native speciesPereira et al. [64]
Mycetophylax conformisPresence/absenceStrong human land-used-impacted sitesDelabie et al. [35]
Myrmicocrypta foreliFrequency of occurrencePreserved savannaRamos et al. [37]
Neivamyrmex orthonotusPresence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]
Nesomyrmex spininodisPresence/absenceStrong human land-used-impacted sitesDelabie et al. [35]
Octostruma balzaniFrequency of occurrenceArea at intermediate successionBraga et al. [54]

Octostruma jheringhiFrequency of occurrenceForest fragmentDias et al. [45]
Frequency of occurrencePreserved savannaRamos et al. [37]

Odontomachus affinisFrequency of occurrenceSecondary forestSilva et al. [75]
Odontomachus bauriPresence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]
Odontomachus brunneusFrequency of occurrencePreserved savannaRamos et al. [37]
Odontomachus caelatusFrequency of occurrenceArea at late succession stageVasconcelos [76]

Odontomachus cheliferFrequency of occurrencePastureBraga et al. [54]
Frequency of occurrencePreserved savannaRamos et al. [37]
Frequency of occurrenceSecondary forest and area at early successionSchmidt and Diehl [52]
Frequency of occurrenceSecondary forest and area at early successionSilva et al. [75]

Odontomachus haematodusFrequency of occurrenceArea at intermediate successionBraga et al. [54]
Presence/absenceBurned restingaEndringer et al. [38]
Frequency of occurrenceControl site (nonburnt)Teixeira et al. [39]
IndValForest—ground stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]

Odontomachus meinertiFrequency of occurrenceDisturbed savannaRamos et al. [37]
Presence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]

Oxyepoecus plaumanni Frequency of occurrencePrimary forestSilva et al. [75]
Oxyepoecus rastratusFrequency of occurrencePrimary forestSilva et al. [75]
Pachycondyla apicalis Presence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]

Pachycondyla arhuacaFrequency of occurrenceArea at late succession stageBraga et al. [54]
Presence/absencePrimary restingaEndringer et al. [38]

Pachycondyla buckiFrequency of occurrencePrimary forestSilva et al. [75]
Pachycondyla crassinodaIndValForest—ground stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]
Pachycondyla ferrugineaFrequency of occurrenceSecondary forest and area at early successionSilva et al. [75]
Pachycondyla gilberti Presence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]

Pachycondyla harpaxPresence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]
IndValForest—ground stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]
Presence/absenceLow human land-use-impacted sitesDelabie et al. [35]

Pachycondyla obscuricornisFrequency of occurrenceEucalyptus (reforestation)Lapola and Fowler [49]

Pachycondyla stigmaFrequency of occurrenceControl site (nonburnt)Teixeira et al. [39]
Frequency of occurrencePrimary forestBraga et al. [54]

Pachycondyla striataFrequency of occurrencePreserved savannaRamos et al. [37]
Presence/absenceSavanna—cerrado sensu strictoMarinho et al. [50]
Frequency of occurrenceSecondary forest and area at early successionSchmidt and Diehl [52]
Frequency of occurrenceSecondary forest and area at early successionSilva et al. [75]

Pachycondyla villosaPresence/absenceBurned restingaEndringer et al. [38]
Frequency of occurrenceDisturbed savannaRamos et al. [37]

Paratrechina longicornisPresence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]
Presence/absenceUndisturbed sitesDelabie et al. [35]

Pheidole diligensPresence/absenceArea at intermediate successionCoelho et al. [60]
Pheidole embolopyxFrequency of occurrenceArea at late succession stageVasconcelos [76]
Pheidole exiguaIndValForest—ground stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]

Pheidole fimbriataFrequency of occurrencePreserved savannaRamos et al. [37]
Presence/absenceSavanna—cerrado sensu strictoMarinho et al. [50]

Pheidole fracticepsIndValForest—ground stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]
Pheidole radoszkowskiiPresence/absenceLow human land-use-impacted sitesDelabie et al. [35]
Pheidole scalarisPresence/absenceArea at early succession—wet seasonNeves et al. [73]
Pogonomyrmex abdominalisPresence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]
Pogonomyrmex naegeliiPresence/absenceArea at intermediate successionCoelho et al. [60]
Prionopelta punctulataFrequency of occurrenceSecondary forest and area at early successionSilva et al. [75]
Pseudomyrmex elongatusFrequency of occurrenceControl site (nonburnt)Teixeira et al. [39]
Pseudomyrmex filiformisFrequency of occurrenceControl site (nonburnt)Teixeira et al. [39]
Pseudomyrmex flavidulusIndValSavanna—vegetation stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]

Pseudomyrmex gracilisPresence/absenceArea at intermediate successionCoelho et al. [60]
IndValSavanna—vegetation stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]
Presence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]

Pseudomyrmex kuenckeliPresence/absenceUndisturbed sitesDelabie et al. [35]
Pseudomyrmex oculatusPresence/absenceArea at intermediate successionCoelho et al. [60]
Frequency of occurrenceControl site (nonburnt)Teixeira et al. [39]
Presence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]
IndValForest—vegetation stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]

Pseudomyrmex schuppiPresence/absenceArea at intermediate successionCoelho et al. [60]
Pseudomyrmex sericeusPresence/absenceUndisturbed sitesDelabie et al. [35]
Pseudomyrmex simplexPresence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]
Pseudomyrmex spiculusPresence/absenceUndisturbed sitesDelabie et al. [35]

Pseudomyrmex tenuisFrequency of occurrenceArea at early successionVasconcelos [76]
IndValForest—vegetation and ground stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]
Presence/absenceStrong human land-use-impacted sitesDelabie et al. [35]
Frequency of occurrenceArea at intermediate successionBraga et al. [54]
Frequency of occurrenceControl site (nonburnt)Teixeira et al. [39]

Pseudomyrmex termitariusPresence/absenceArea at early succession—dry seasonNeves et al. [73]
Frequency of occurrencePastureBraga et al. [54]
IndValSavanna—vegetation stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]
Presence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]

Pyramica appretiataFrequency of occurrencePrimary forestSilva et al. [75]
Pyramica denticulataFrequency of occurrenceArea at early successionSilva et al. [75]
Pyramica lygatrix Frequency of occurrencePrimary forestSilva et al. [75]
Pyramica rugithoraxFrequency of occurrencePrimary forestSilva et al. [75]
Pyramica schulziPresence/absenceStrong human land-use-impacted sitesDelabie et al. [35]

Pyramica subdentataFrequency of occurrencePreserved savannaRamos et al. [37]
Frequency of occurrenceSecondary forest and area at early successionSilva et al. [75]

Pyramica zetekiFrequency of occurrencePreserved savannaRamos et al. [37]

Sericomymex bondariFrequency of occurrenceControl site (nonburnt)Teixeira et al. [39]
Presence/absenceLow human land-use-impacted sitesDelabie et al. [35]

Simopelta curvataFrequency of occurrencePasture (edge)Dias et al. [45]

Solenopsis geminataFrequency of occurrenceArea at early successionVasconcelos [76]
Frequency of occurrenceCaesalpinia echinata forestSantana-Reis and Santos [51]

Solenopsis saevissimaFrequency of occurrenceDisturbed sitesIlha et al. [48]
Presence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]

Solenopsis substitutaFrequency of occurrenceBurnt siteTeixeira et al. [39]
Presence/absenceEucalyptus forestryMarinho et al. [50]
IndValSavanna—ground stratumVasconcelos and Vilhena [82]

Sphinctomyrmex staliFrequency of occurrencePrimary forestSilva et al. [75]
Stegomyrmex vizzotoi Frequency of occurrencePrimary forestSilva et al. [75]
Strumigenys denticulataFrequency of occurrenceIntermediate disturbed areaVasconcelos [76]

Strumigenys elongataFrequency of occurrenceArea at early successionSilva et al. [75]
Frequency of occurrencePreserved savannaRamos et al. [37]

Strumigenys perparvaPresence/absenceSavanna—cerrado sensu strictoMarinho et al. [50]
Frequency of occurrencePreserved savannaRamos et al. [37]

Tapinoma melanocephalumFrequency of occurrenceDisturbed habitat (Eucalyptus)Ilha et al. [48]
Frequency of occurrenceForest fragmentsLapola and Fowler [49]

Trachymyrmex cornetziFrequency of occurrenceControl site (nonburnt)Teixeira et al. [39]
Trachymyrmex fuscusFrequency of occurrencePasture (edge)Dias et al. [45]
Trachymyrmex zetekiFrequency of occurrencePrimary forestSilva et al. [75]

Typhlomyrmex majorFrequency of occurrenceForest fragmentsLapola and Fowler [49]
Frequency of occurrencePrimary forestSilva et al. [75]

Typhlomyrmex pusillusFrequency of occurrencePrimary forestSilva et al. [75]

Wasmannia auropunctataPresence/absenceArea at intermediate successionCoelho et al. [60]
Frequency of occurrenceControl site (nonburnt)Teixeira et al. [39]

Wasmannia rochaiPresence/absenceArea at early successionCoelho et al. [60]