關刀溪森林生態系著生植物基質蟻客昆蟲群聚之多樣性

Biodiversity of Ant-guest Community in the Epiphytic Substrates of Guandaushi Forest Ecosystem, Central Taiwan

在關刀溪森林生態系，螞蟻與蟻客共棲於著生植物基質內，在15 個台灣山蘇花及16 個崖薑蕨之基質樣品中我們採集到螞蟻共7,660 隻，計有33 形態種，種數與基質含葉鮮重及離地距離間之相關性極低（r 值分別為0.0515 及0.0566），推測螞蟻選擇基質棲所可能是逢機性的，各基質樣品間之螞蟻組成亦互為獨立關係。鞘翅目蟻客共有6 個科，其組成形態種以隱翅蟲科（43%）與蟻塚蟲科（34%）兩科為優勢分類群，占總個體數的77%，此兩科蟻客之種數與個體數和單一基質內螞蟻個體數呈顯著正相關（r 值分別為0.4144 及0.4262）。在山胡椒樹上之舉腹蟻屬之紙質蟻巢內昆蟲相，主要由螞蟻及介殼蟲組成，其共棲昆蟲相之歧異度較低，共有5 個目，膜翅目中除蟻科之外尚有小蜂總科，另有鱗翅目、雙翅目之蚤蠅科、嚙蟲目以及同翅目之介殼蟲總科。著生植物基質中之螞蟻社會除有生殖階級外，亦可發現卵及幼蟲，可確定此基質為螞蟻之生育場所，由基質提供螞蟻棲息與食物等資源之觀點，或可視著生植物為防護型或（及）聚物籃型之螞蟻植物。 A total of 7,660 individuals belonging to 33 morpho-species of ants and their ant-guest insects were found in the substrates of epiphytes, i.e. Asplenium nidus (15 samples) and Pseudodrynaria coronans (16 samples) in the Guandaushi (GDS) forest ecosystem. Based on the regression analysis, the numbers of ant species is independent to the properties of the epiphytic substrates, i.e., the fresh weight with leaves, and the distance from ground level. Therefore, the selection of the substrate by the ants are probably random, and the composition of ant species is independent among each epiphytic substrate. Two coleopteran families, Staphylinidae (43%) and Pselaphidae (34%), are the dominant ant-guest groups in this study. The species number and individual number of ant-guests are both significantly correlated with the ant individuals in each single substrate. On the other hand, five orders of insects coexist with ants, Crematagaster sp. in the three papery nests collected from the tree top of Litsea cubeba, and they are Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera, Psocoptera, and Homoptera. The dominants inside the nest are ants and scale insects. Since the reproductive castes as well as eggs and larvae are found inside the nests, the epiphytic substrates also serve as breeding sites for the ants. Since the substrates of epiphytes provide ants with resources of habitats and food, the epiphytes can be considered as ant-guarded or/ and trash-basket types of ant-plants.

A total of 7,660 individuals belonging to 33 morpho-species of ants and their ant-guest insects were found in the substrates of epiphytes, i.e. Asplenium nidus (15 samples) and Pseudodrynaria coronans (16 samples) in the Guandaushi (GDS) forest ecosystem. Based on the regression analysis, the numbers of ant species is independent to the properties of the epiphytic substrates, i.e., the fresh weight with leaves, and the distance from ground level. Therefore, the selection of the substrate by the ants are probably random, and the composition of ant species is independent among each epiphytic substrate. Two coleopteran families, Staphylinidae (43%) and Pselaphidae (34%), are the dominant ant-guest groups in this study. The species number and individual number of ant-guests are both significantly correlated with the ant individuals in each single substrate. On the other hand, five orders of insects coexist with ants, Crematagaster sp. in the three papery nests collected from the tree top of Litsea cubeba, and they are Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera, Psocoptera, and Homoptera. The dominants inside the nest are ants and scale insects. Since the reproductive castes as well as eggs and larvae are found inside the nests, the epiphytic substrates also serve as breeding sites for the ants. Since the substrates of epiphytes provide ants with resources of habitats and food, the epiphytes can be considered as ant-guarded or/ and trash-basket types of ant-plants.