Evaluating the species composition and distribution of ant communities in a campus ecosystem

Ants are ecosystem engineers as well as bioindicators of habitat change. A study on the species composition of ants in the campus of Sree Narayana College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala state showed the occurrence of seventeen ant species belonging to four subfamilies. Myrmicinae was the most diverse subfamily with 7 species, followed by Formicinae (5 species), Ponerinae (3 species) and Dolichoderinae (2 species). Species such as Anoplolepis gracilipes, Nylanderia birmana, Pheidole (minor) were seen in abundance.