The temporal variability of ant fauna collected in Caxiuanã -PA during the leaf litter ants protocol of the Project TEAM/Caxiuanã were studied based on the local meteorological conditions observed during the months from January to April (rainfall season), and July to October (dry season) to 2006 to 2007. Data from the micrometeorological tower at Caxiuanã were used. During the rainfall season the predominance of high values of precipitation and soil moisture and low values of air temperatures is noted. In the dry season the opposite behavior compared to the rainfall season is observed. In general, it was observed that the frequency of ants is greater when precipitation and soil moisture are reduced and air temperature is increased. Ants of the genera Crematogaster, Hypoponera, Pheidole and Solenopsis have higher number of individuals. It was noted also that the statistical correlations using second-order polynomial function, between atmospheric variables and the frequency of ants, occurred in reverse mode for precipitation and soil moisture, and direct for the air temperature. Our results corroboreted to the high abundance of the four upper mentioned ant genera in relation to the environmental atmospheric condictions in tropical regions.
Ants; Atmosphere; Amazon; Precipitation
