Effects of Seasonality on the Diversity and Quality of Trophic Resources Used by Dinoponera Gigantea (Perty, 1833) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Different Physiognomies of the Cerrado in the Northeast of the State Of Maranhão

Objective: To evaluate the effects of seasonality on the diversity and quality of trophic resources used by Dinoponera gigantea in different phytophysiognomies of the northeastern Cerrado of Maranhão. Theoretical Framework: This study is grounded in key concepts and theories, highlighting principles of trophic ecology, ecological plasticity, and seasonality models in tropical environments. Literature on the feeding behavior of Poneromorph ants and the influence of vegetation structure on biodiversity provides a solid foundation for understanding the research contexto. Method: Sampling took place in March and November, with five nests per fragment. Resources were obtained through nest excavation and dismantling, classified as plant or animal origin, properly stored, and the ant specimens were identified at UFMA. Bromatological analysis included measurements of dry matter, crude protein, and mineral content. Results and Discussion: During the rainy season, 978 animal resources (Coleoptera, Gastropoda, Orthoptera) and 143 plant resources (Fabales, Gentianales) were identified. In the dry season, 955 animal resources (Coleoptera, Blattaria, Hemiptera) and 84 plant resources (Fabales, Arecales, Malpighiales) were recorded. Nutritional quality was higher in the rainy season, especially in mesophilic forest, mesophilic forest with palm trees, and dense Cerrado areas. In the dry season, quality decreased, except for dry matter in animal resources from dense Cerrado and mesophilic forest with palm trees. Research Implications: The findings support conservation strategies for the Cerrado, emphasizing the importance of heterogeneous environments in maintaining biodiversity. They also inform practices in insect ecology, natural area management, and bioproduct development, reinforcing the ecological role of D. gigantea as an indicator species of environmental quality. Originality/Value: This pioneering study investigates the diet of Dinoponera gigantea in specific phytophysiognomies of the northeastern Cerrado, using an integrated approach combining behavioral ecology and bromatological analysis. It reveals how the species adapts its foraging behavior to seasonal and structural environmental variations, contributing novel data on its ecological plasticity.