The present study describes the epigaeic ant communities in eucalyptus plantations in sandbank in Rio Grande do Sul State. Ant collections were performed in six plantations of Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden and Eucalyptus saligna Smith with ages varying between five to 31 years old. A total of 24 areas (four/area) were randomly selected for ant collections. In each one, three transects of 100 m were designed at intervals of 12 m. Along each transect, ten pitfall traps with sardine baits were placed, at intervals of 10 m for a 24-hour-period. A total of 21,033 ants were collected, belonging to five subfamilies, 12 tribes, 19 genera and 49 species. According to the jackknife estimator of first order, there was no significant difference between the ant communities richness considering the eucalyptus species (U = 81.500; g.l. = 1; P = 0.582) and the ages of the plantations (U = 2.504; g.l. = 3; P = 0.547). Results indicate that richness of ant species are not related to the species of eucalyptus and/or to the age of the forests planted in sandbanks.
Biodiversity; Eucalyptus; Formicidae; restingas
