01535nas a2200169 4500008004100000245006400041210006400105260004400169520101800213653001201231653001501243653001401258653001001272100001801282700001501300856005001315 2008 eng d00aEffects of Forest Disturbance on Ant Diversity in Singapore0 aEffects of Forest Disturbance on Ant Diversity in Singapore bNational University of Singaporec2000x3 a

Urbanisation in Singapore has led to a major landscape change and currently, only patches of forested areas are left. Ants, being an important ecological insect group, are diverse and abundant, play important functional roles at all trophic levels, and are highly sensitive and respond quickly to environmental changes. In this study, the effect of forest disturbance (disturbed vs. undisturbed) onant diversity was investigated in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Central Catchment Nature Reserve and Kent Ridge Park. Pitfall trapping from ten study sites recorded 64 ant species representing 27 genera from 1108 individuals. This study found that there was no statistical significant difference in mean ant species richness and abundance between disturbed and undisturbed forests even though the undisturbed forests had higher species richness but lower abundance than the disturbed forests. Ant diversity in Singapore is little known and this study had shown that there is a rich diversity of ants present.

10aecology10aFormicidae10aSingapore10aUROPS1 aChong, C., S.1 aLi, D., Q. uhttps://singaporeants.myspecies.info/node/76301450nas a2200217 4500008004100000245008100041210006900122260000900191300001400200490000600214520084000220653000901060653001201069653001501081653001801096653001501114653001401129100001901143700002001162856005001182 2012 eng d00aScavenging of dead invertebrates along an urbanisation gradient in Singapore0 aScavenging of dead invertebrates along an urbanisation gradient  c2012 a128 - 1450 v53 a

1. Little is known about the animals that scavenge invertebrates in the tropics and the impact of human activities on such organisms.

2. We studied the scavenging process using baits representing five dead invertebrate types in six habitats along an urbanisation gradient in equatorial Singapore: primary forest, old secondary forest, young secondary forest, recreational park, mown grassland and impervious surfaces.

3. Ants were the dominant scavengers, except at night in grassland when an earwig (Labiduridae) dominated. In general, the forest sites had more scavenger species and shorter bait survival times than the non-forest habitats.

4. Bait survival time increased monotonically along the urbanisation gradient, suggesting that this parameter could be used as an indicator of habitat quality.

10aants10aecology10aFormicidae10ainvertebrates10ascavenging10aSingapore1 aTan, C., K. W.1 aCorlett, R., T. uhttps://singaporeants.myspecies.info/node/771