Influence of urbanization on ant distribution in parks of Tokyo and Chiba City, Japan II. Analysis of species

Abstract

To study the influence of urbanization on the distribution of ant species, I compared the occurrence of several ant species in urban parks of different areas and ages in Tokyo and Chiba City, Japan. Analysis of the presence or absence of 42 species revealed that the probability of occurrence in a park was significantly associated with park area for 15 species (35.7%), with park age for five (11.9%), and with region for seven (16.7%). It is likely that different species respond differently to urbanization. Species sensitive to urbanization could be good bioindicators of urban environments. Furthermore, to estimate the influence of the modification of underground environments, Messor aciculatus was selected, because this species nests in an almost vertical shaft with many chambers, to a depth of up to 4 m. The probability of occurrence of the species in a park tended to be lower in reclaimed land and banked land than in other landforms. This fact suggests that M. aciculatus could be a bioindicator of underground modification.

Local and landscape drivers of arthropod abundance, richness, and trophic composition in urban habitats

“…Several studies document that habitat characteristics (such as vegetation complexity, leaf litter depth, number and size of trees, amount of impervious surface) affect abundance, richness, and composition of individual arthropod groups (McKinney 2008;Uno et al 2010). Similarly, landscape-level drivers, such as area of habitat fragments, distance to natural areas, habitat connectivity, and position along the urban to rural gradient, may affect arthropod communities (Rudd et al 2002;Yamaguchi 2004;Pacheco and Vasconcelos 2007;Magura et al 2010). Despite the growth in knowledge of conservation and biodiversity of arthropods in urban ecosystems, there are several areas that deserve further study.…”

Long-term impacts of Argentine ant invasion of urban parks in Hiroshima, Japan

“…In addition, the stability, sedentary nature, and sensitivity to environmental perturbation also make ant communities suitable for assessing the general state of an environment (Alonso and Agosti 2000, Yamaguchi 2005, Ribas et al 2012. Consequently, numerous studies have examined ant responses to a variety of environmental disturbances (Human and Gordon 1996, Thompson and Mclachlan 2007, Menke et al 2011.…”

Richness and composition of spiders in urban green spaces in Toledo, Ohio

“…A recent surge of studies has investigated how differences among urban habitat types, differences along an urban to rural gradient, and the landscape in which urban habitats are embedded, affect different arthropod communities (e.g., Turner et al 2004;Carpaneto et al 2005;Shochat et al 2006;Pacheco & Vasconcelos 2007;McKinney 2008;Christie & Hochuli 2009;Uno et al 2010;Fattorini 2011;Tó thmérész et al 2011). Most studies have examined arthropod communities across rural-urban gradients Hornung et al 2007;Tonietto et al 2011;Varet et al 2011), but relatively few have compared arthropod communities in more than one habitat type exclusively within urban settings (Yamaguchi 2004;Rango 2005;Sadler et al 2006;Smith et al 2006; Thompson & McLachlan 2007;Cá rdenas & Buddle 2009;Uno et al 2010). As such, there is still a need for more invertebrate studies from within cities.…”