ONGOING PROJECTS
CONSOLIDATION OF KNOWLEDGE OF ANT BIODIVERSITY IN THE STATE OF MARANHÃO
AND EFFECT OF LANDSCAPE MODIFICATION ON FUNCTIONAL DIVERSITY
Exploring ants in Maranhão isn't just about studying bugs - it's about uncovering vital clues to protect our planet's biodiversity! By digging into where ants live, how they're doing, and even who else is moving in, we unlock secrets crucial for protecting and saving our ecosystems. Whether it's understanding how ants cope with climate change or spotting invaders upsetting the balance, every tiny detail matters. With historical data as our guide, we're not just exploring the past: we're shaping a brighter future for diverse habitats ranging from Amazon rainforests to Cerrado savannas, in this state that offers a unique opportunity to study how these microcosms respond to anthropogenic pressures and environmental changes. Let's dive into the world of ants and discover how they hold the key to a healthy environment for all.
Funding: Universidade Estadual do Maranhão/UEMA
The ANTDIV project aims at unraveling species evolutionary histories and their actual interactions at the community level to understand patterns of ant diversity in Amazonia, thereby allowing more general predictions on how biodiversity is shaped through time and space. We will focus on the development of two research areas that relate to the main projects currently developed by the partners:
DESCRIBE AND UNDERSTAND THE ANT DIVERSITY DISTRIBUTION OVER LARGE GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS
IMPROVE SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND FINE SCALE ANT TAXONOMY
The ANTDIV would also enforce the scientific collaboration between Brazil and France, especially through the development of a collaborative research consortium involving institutions based in French Guiana, Amazonas and Amapá states in Brazil.
Project’s PIs: Jérôme Orivel, Fabrício Beggiato Baccaro, Luisa Campos Barro and Rogério R. Silva.
Funding: Fundação Amazônia de Amparo a Estudos e Pesquisas (FAPESPA) Process Nº 029/2020
A database for modeling the response of morphological diversity to land use in the Amazon. The project proposes to develop a database for the ant morphological diversity across Amazonia. The database will be used as a platform for macro-ecological studies (spatial patterns of the morphological diversity in the Amazonia Basin). The database will be used to:
1
BUILD AN OCCURRENCE DATASET FOR ANTS IN THE AMAZONIA
2
CREATE DISTRIBUTION MAPS OF MORPHOLOGICAL DIVERSITY IN THE AMAZON BASIN
3
IDENTIFY AREAS OF HIGH MORPHOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND HIGH FUNCTIONAL IMPORTANCE IN THE LANDSCAPE
BOOK CHAPTERS