2022 MNH Biodiversity Seminar: Dianne Joy Aguilon

Video documentation of the UPLB Museum of Natural History Biodiversity Seminar on "Ant and plant assemblages in karst doline: The role of habitat heterogeneity and anthropogenic disturbance" by Dr. Dianne Joy Aguilon, Assistant Professor, Department of Forest Biological Sciences, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños last 11 May 2022.

ABSTRACT OF TALK

Karst depressions (dolines), due to their topographic complexity and microclimatic inversions harbor innumerable uniquely adapted valuable species of animals and plants. Doline habitats are unique because they can be cooler and moister or warmer and drier than the surrounding areas creating a fine-scale environmental heterogeneity. However, nowadays these important doline habitats are altered by various anthropogenic disturbances leading these habitats to become more vulnerable and prone to degradation. Here, we conducted different studies to elucidate the influence of habitat heterogeneity and anthropogenic disturbances on ant and plant assemblages in dolines. We studied solution dolines in the karst plateaus of Bükk and Mecsek Mountains in Hungary. Ants and plants were selected as focal taxa because ant colonies and plants share many similarities and both are good indicators of environmental changes, ecosystem health and functioning. Highlights of the study results: 1) Our study showed that distribution of different functional groups of both ant and plant assemblages respond to the fine-scale microclimatic variations among the doline microhabitats in a similar manner; 2) Our study revealed that there is a strong relationship between habitat heterogeneity and the distribution of functional groups and traits of ant assemblages in dolines; 3) Lastly, our study indicated that local anthropogenic disturbances such as human mediated invasion of dominant grassland competitors and extensive forestry activities negatively influence the degree of naturalness of doline habitats and may alter these habitats’ capacity to support valuable species.

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