INFLUÊNCIA DAS INTERAÇÕES COMPORTAMENTAIS ENTRE ESPÉCIES DE FORMIGAS EM LEVANTAMENTOS FAUNÍSTICOS EM COMUNIDADES DE CERRADO

Abstract

We investigate the influence of aggressive behaviors among ant species interacting in alimentary sources in the establishment of dominance hierarchies resulting in the exclusion of su­bordinate species, that might affect faunistic surveys employing attractive baits. Observation of behavioral interactions by ants species visiting 60 sardine baits, offered for 90 minutes over the soil of two Cerrado localities, indicate that although dominance may occur, it does not result from preestablished behavioral patterns or physical properties of the species, but may be influenced by the distribution of the baits, by the different foraging strategies employed by different ant species and by other factors as well, suggesting that dominance docs not influence the results of surveys that employ baits provided certain conditions are followed.