Resilient foragers: the behavioral adaptability of Pseudomyrmex termitarius to fire-driven landscape changes

Abstract

Ants are social insects that inhabit nearly all terrestrial environments. In Brazil, they are widespread across diverse biomes, including the distinctive wood savannas known as Cerrado. Many species have evolved to the fire regimes in the Cerrado. Understanding the impact of fire on these species provides insights into their adaptability to altered ecological conditions. This study aimed to assess how burned areas affect on the foraging behavior of Pseudomyrmex termitarius (Smith, 1855) in the Cerrado. We conducted the research in the northeast of Brazil, specifically in Vargem Grande, Maranhão, Brazil. We studied eight ant nests from two areas: a control area and a burned area. These nests were located within 50 × 50 m continuous plots and were monitored twice daily, from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. and from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. We monitored temperature and humidity measurements at ground level, and the results were statistically similar between both areas. The distances traveled by ants from their nests were analyzed using the Friedman non-parametric test. Additionally, to compare the home ranges, each polygon was fragmented, and the sides of the geometric shapes were analyzed using the same test. The results showed that although the size of the home ranges for P. termitarius remained unchanged, the extent of their foraging routes was significantly larger in the burned area.