1. Presented by: Masa and Olivar
Optimizing Diversity Assessment
Protocols for High Canopy Ants in
Tropical Rain Forest

2. Why Ants?
• Most abundant and ecologically important group
• Population decline affect the rates of ecosystem
processes such as nutrient redistribution (Fayle et
al. 2011)

3. Inquiry
Which among the sampling techniques can give
the highest number of ant individuals, number
of species and species composition?
1. Fogging
2. Baited Pitfall Trap
3. Purse-String Trap

4. Segama Forest Reserve, Sabah,
Malaysia – Lowland Dipterocarp
Forest

5. 1. Fogging
• Igeba TF 35 fogging machine
with synthetic pyrethrum
insecticide (active compound:
Alphacypermethrin with
synergist 2.27%)
• 10 fogging trays
• 10 min
• Carried out at 6 am
• Trays left for 3 hours

7. 2. Baited Pitfall Trap
Attachment to Branch
Mesh containing bait
(Tuna and sweets)
Water with Detergent

8. 3. Purse-String Trap

9. Results
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Abundance Diversity
Fogging
Baited Pitfall
Purse-String
39,351 ants 173 species 38 genera

10. Discussion
SAMPLING TECHNIQUE ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
Fogging Most efficient Greatly disturbs the
ecosystem
Baited Pitfall Allows catching of species
active throughout a 24-h
period
Run for longer periods of
time to catch reasonable
numbers of ants (caught
are clumsy ants)
Purse-String Trap Powerful method in
collecting ants on very
small spatial and temporal
scales
Does not allow the whole
canopy of the tree to be
sampled

11. Conclusion
• Fogging > Purse-
string > Baited
Pitfall in terms of
species abundance
and diversity
• Authors suggest
that in choosing a
sampling
technique, one
must first consider
sampling time.