Showing papers by "John T. Longino published in 2009"
North Carolina State University1, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation2, Autonomous University of Barcelona3, University of Koblenz and Landau4, Spanish National Research Council5, Harvard University6, California Academy of Sciences7, La Trobe University8, University of Vermont9, Curtin University10, Sewanee: The University of the South11, University of Oklahoma12, University of Tennessee13, The Evergreen State College14, California State University, Dominguez Hills15, University of Oxford16, University of Toledo17, University of Ulm18, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign19
TL;DR: Examining the latitudinal pattern of species richness across 1003 local ant assemblages finds latitudinal asymmetry, with southern hemisphere sites being more diverse than northern hemisphere sites, and the most parsimonious explanation is that greater climate change since the Eocene in the northern than in the southern hemisphere has led to more extinctions in the north with consequent effects on local ant species richness.
Abstract: Although many taxa show a latitudinal gradient in richness, the relationship between latitude and species richness is often asymmetrical between the northern and southern hemispheres. Here we examine the latitudinal pattern of species richness across 1003 local ant assemblages. We find latitudinal asymmetry, with southern hemisphere sites being more diverse than northern hemisphere sites. Most of this asymmetry could be explained statistically by differences in contemporary climate. Local ant species richness was positively associated with temperature, but negatively (although weakly) associated with temperature range and precipitation. After contemporary climate was accounted for, a modest difference in diversity between hemispheres persisted, suggesting that factors other than contemporary climate contributed to the hemispherical asymmetry. The most parsimonious explanation for this remaining asymmetry is that greater climate change since the Eocene in the northern than in the southern hemisphere has led to more extinctions in the northern hemisphere with consequent effects on local ant species richness.
247 citations
TL;DR: It was found that the total abundance of individual swarm-founding wasps was higher at all elevations than the abundance of independent-finding wasps, supporting previous suggestions that Neotropical swarm founders are more successful ecologically.
Abstract: We used a standard sampling protocol to measure elevational patterns of species richness and abundance of eusocial paper wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in Costa Rica. The sample transect of six sites spanned approximately 2000 m in elevation from lowland to montane forest. Species accumulation curves and species richness estimates both document a low elevation peak in paper wasp species richness at 50 and 300 m asl, with a decline in species richness at higher elevations. Comparison of species composition among elevations revealed strong species turnover from a rich lowland fauna to a depauperate, but distinct, montane fauna. We also observed a general trend toward a greater abundance of paper wasps at higher elevations, a pattern not usually observed in eusocial insects. Army ant species that prey on paper wasps declined in abundance with elevation across the sample transect, a pattern that has been observed at other sites. We discuss the possibility that elevational changes in predation pressure affect variation in paper wasp abundance and species richness. Eusocial paper wasp species employ one of two modes of colony founding, independent and swarm founding. We found that the total abundance of individual swarm-founding wasps was higher at all elevations than the abundance of independent-founding wasps, supporting previous suggestions that Neotropical swarm founders are more successful ecologically.
55 citations
TL;DR: The hyperdiverse ant genus Pheidole has its center of diversity in the New World, where over 600 species occur, and in spite of recent revisonary work new species continue to be discovered and understanding of geographic variation of named species continues to improve.
Abstract: The hyperdiverse ant genus Pheidole has its center of diversity in the New World, where over 600 species occur. In spite of recent revisonary work (Wilson 2003) new species continue to be discovered and understanding of geographic variation of named species continues to improve. In this report new species and taxonomic changes are proposed for the Central American fauna. The following new species are described: P. bigote, P. branstetteri, P. carinote, P. debilis, P. eowilsoni, P. epiphyta, P. fossimandibula, P. gymnoceras, P. janzeni, P. karolmorae, P. karolsetosa, P. lagunculinoda, P. leoncortesi, P. mesomontana, P. pararugiceps, P. phanigaster, P. picobarva, P. purpurea, P. rhinomontana, P. sebofila, P. sparsisculpta, P. synanthropica, and P. tenuicephala. The following new synonymy is proposed, with the senior synonym listed first and the junior synonym(s) in parentheses: P. angusticeps Wilson (= P. gradifera Wilson); P. arachnion Wilson (= P. iracunda Wilson); P. bilimeki Mayr (=P. rectiluma Wilson); P. boliviana Wilson (= P. mincana Wilson, P. scitula Wilson); P. boltoni Wilson (= P. humida Wilson); P. deceptrix Forel (=P. chiapasana Wilson, P. variceps Wilson); P. erratilis Wilson (= P. petersoni Wilson); P. exarata Emery (= P. grantae Forel); P. harrisonfordi Wilson (= P. prolixa Wilson, P. ruida Wilson, P. tenebra Wilson); P. laselva Wilson (=P. ebenina Wilson); P. mooreorum Wilson (= P. fariasana Wilson); P. nebulosa Wilson (= P. scabriventris Wilson); P. nitidicollis Emery (= P. sagana Wheeler); P. perpusilla Emery (= P. breviscapa Forel); P. pubiventris Mayr (= P. variegata Emery, P. indistincta Forel); P. radoszkowskii Mayr (= P. medialis Wilson); P. sculptior Forel (= P. tayrona Wilson); P. susannae Forel (= P. obscurior Forel and its synonym P. partita Mayr); P. texticeps Wilson (= P. perdiligens Wilson); P. vorax (Fabricius) (= P. cephalica F. Smith and its synonyms P. opaca Mayr, P. incrustata Forel, P. sarrita Forel, P. apterostigmoides Weber); P. walkeri Mann (= P. arietans Wilson, P. glyphoderma Wilson, P. triumbonata Wilson). Pheidole innupta Menozzi is removed from synonymy under P. alfaroi and revalidated.
47 citations
TL;DR: Character variation is reevaluated and Pheidole bilimeki is redefined, a common ant species throughout northern South America, Central America, and southern Mexico, and P. jamaicensis is elevated to species rank.
Abstract: Pheidole bilimeki is a common ant species throughout northern South America, Central America, and southern Mexico. Character variation is reevaluated and Pheidole bilimeki is redefined. Pheidole anastasii rev. stat. and P. jamaicensis rev. stat., n. stat. are removed from synonymy and P. jamaicensis is elevated to species rank. Pheidole anastasii is a relatively uniform species that lives in plant cavities in the understory of closed canopy forest. Pheidole jamaicensis and P. bilimeki inhabit open areas and are often associated with human altered landscapes. Pheidole anastasii occurs in lowland Atlantic slope forests from Panama to Guatemala and southern Mexico (Chiapas); P. jamaicensis is restricted to the islands of Jamaica and Hispaniola; P. bilimeki occurs on Cuba, the Bahamas, and the American mainland. Differentiating characters are also provided for Pheidole punctatissima, a common species with habitus and habits similar to P. bilimeki.
17 citations
TL;DR: Crematogaster pygmaea is revived from synonymy under C. abstinens and newly characterized as a ground-nesting ant from northeastern Brazil, where it forms extensive polydomous and polygynous colonies that nest in the soil.
Abstract: Crematogaster pygmaea is revived from synonymy under C. abstinens and newly characterized as a ground-nesting ant from northeastern Brazil. It is a habitat specialist in coastal and tabuleiro zones, where it forms extensive polydomous and polygynous colonies that nest in the soil. Workers forage extensively on honeydew and extrafloral nectar, and foraging continues day and night, although it is depressed at ground temperatures above 32°C. Gyne production occurs at the beginning of the rainy season, while male production starts in the dry season, some months before gyne production.
14 citations
5 citations
Journal Article•