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Australian Journal of Zoology Australian Journal of Zoology Society
Evolutionary, molecular and comparative zoology
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 54(2)

Biogeography and diversity of ants in Purnululu (Bungle Bungle) National Park and Conservation Reserve, Western Australia

Lauren Barrow A , Catherine L. Parr B C and James L. Kohen A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia.

B Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre, CSIRO Tropical Ecosystems Research Centre, PMB 44, Winnellie, NT 0822, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: kate.parr@csiro.au

Australian Journal of Zoology 54(2) 123-136 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO06009
Submitted: 17 January 2006  Accepted: 18 March 2006   Published: 11 May 2006

Abstract

We describe the diversity, composition, functional group organisation and biogeography of ants in Purnululu National Park (128°19′E, 17°19′S) in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, located at a semi-arid/tropical zone boundary. Pitfall trapping collected a representative sample of ants from three main habitats within the park: spinifex, sandplain and gorges. In total, 154 species from 25 genera were collected. The richest genera were Melophorus, Iridomyrmex and Monomorium. Iridomyrmex was the most abundant genus, accounting for 80% of all individuals recorded in traps. Functional group composition was dominated by Dominant Dolichoderinae (41% of individuals collected) and Hot Climate Specialists (26%). Biogeographical composition was typical of semi-arid zone assemblages located on the overlap between Eyrean and Torresian zones: 50% of the species recorded represented Eyrean taxa, followed by 33% with Torresian affinities, and 10% Widespread. Differences in ant species richness, abundance and assemblage composition between the three habitat types were attributed to a combination of variation in vegetation structure and microhabitat composition. This paper provides baseline data on local ant communities in the semi-arid Kimberley, enabling a greater understanding of the conservation value of reserves within the Kimberley, one of Australia’s least studied bioregions.


Acknowledgments

We thank Mark Branson, Richard Mercer and Matt Flower for their hours of field and laboratory assistance; Thalie Partridge for field support and help with GIS mapping; Alan Andersen for invaluable help with identification of specimens and comments on this paper; PNP Council for allowing us to conduct research within the park; CALM for their financial and technical support throughout the project. Additional funding support was provided through the Bushfire CRC. L. Barrow thanks all the people at TERC in Darwin for providing a productive and supportive work environment and Maureen Barrow for preliminary editing of this manuscript. This paper is one in a series contributing to the Masters (Honours) thesis of LB with Macquarie University.


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