A Study on the Ant Communities on West Slope at Different Elevation of the Gaoligongshan Mountain Nature Reserve in Yunnan,China

The ant communities and their species diversity with altitudinal zonation on west slope of the Gaoligongshan Mountain Nature Reserve were studied for the first time.Along with the increasing of altitude,number of dominant species increases at the north and north-middle sections of the reserve,but decreases at the south section.While the altitude increasing,percentage of dominant species decreases at the north and north-middle sections,but increases at the south section.It is inferred that along with the increasing of altitude the species number decreases.This study also suggested that the density of individuals decrease while the altitude increasing.At the north and north-middle sections the predominant index decreases while altitude increasing,but the index increases at middle-south and south sections.Along with the altitude increasing,the species diversity index increases at north section,without regularity at north-middle section,and decreases at middle-south and south sections.At north,north-middle and middle-south sections,evenness index increases while altitude increasing,but the index decreases at south section.Similarity coefficient between the ant communities on west slope at all the four sections is almost all between 0.00-0.25,with only one coefficient surpasses this range.We think the basic rules of the species diversity of ant communities on west slope under the state of virgin vegetation should be that along with the altitude increasing,number of dominant species decreases,percentage of dominant species increases,species number decreases,individual density decreases,predominant index increases,species diversity index decreases,and evenness index decreases.The unusual situation observed in the practical investigation might be caused by the destroying of vegetation on the foot of the mountain and half way up the mountain.