PARENT SESSION
Poster Session # 19: Insect and Invertebrate Ecology.
Thursday, August 7 Presentation from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. SITCC Exhibit Hall B.
Abiotic factors affecting Solenopsis invicta and Brachymyrmex sp. populations.
Rosson, Jessica*,1, Bui, Linda*,1, 1 Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
ABSTRACT- Ant populations may vary and often depend on factors such as temperature, humidity, soil characteristics, and water availability. Many of these abiotic factors influence the abundance and diversity of ants in habitats and landscapes. Our study focused on three weather factors, three soil characteristics, two water related factors, and three habitat characteristics. One hundred meter transects with food vials containing approximately 4g of vienna sausage and 4 ml of honey were used to capture Solenopsis invicta and Brachymyrmex sp. and monitor for ant abundance. In addition to the food traps, hand collection and observation were used to document Brachymyrmex sp. abundance, and mound counts were used to document Solenopsis invicta abundance. The abiotic factors will be analyzed with a multivariate factor analysis, cluster analysis, logistic regression, and principle component analysis. These analyses will elucidate which of the factors are most significant in determining Solenopsis invicta and Brachymyrmex sp. abundance.
Key words: Brachymyrmex sp., Solenopsis invicta, abiotic factors, ant abundance