Biodiversity (Ants)

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Exotic species reduce beta diversity while invasive species reduce alpha diversity

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Diverse ecosystems produce

Threats to insects(Amenazas a los insectos)

Habitat Loss/Pérdida de Hábitat

Extreme Weather (Hurricanes, Freezes)Climas Extremos (Huracanes, Olas de Frío)

Predators/Depredadores

Prior to development, there were about 185,000 acres of pine rockland in Miami-Dade County

Today, only about 4,000 acres of pine rockland remain outside of Everglades National Park

“Pine Rocklands Born from Fire”, a Miami-Dade County publication

South Florida’s Pine Rocklands (An Endangered Ecosystem)

Bosque seco subtropical

(Parque Nacional Biscayne)

Camponotus planatus (Exótica)

Ant Diversity in Florida

Solenopsis invicta (Exótica)

Camponotus floridanus (Nativa)

Wasmannia auropunctata (Exótica)

Pseudomyrmex gracilis (Exótica)

Pseudomyrmex elongatus (Nativa)

Over 200 ant species live in Florida

C. planatus

C. floridanus

P. gracilis

P. elongatus

N. steinheili

P. floridana

P. dentata

M. floricola

O. brunneus

C. ashmeadi

C. minutus

S. geminata

W. aurop-unctata

C. tortuganus

Ant Diversity at Adams Key on or near Amyris elemifera

Who Cares, why bother!(A Quién Le Importa, Por qué Molestarse!)

Animals Wanted (Animales Deseados)

A recent worldwide analysis of crops showed that the absence of animal pollinators could greatly reduce the production of a number of valuable foods.Credit Source: Klein et al.,Proc. of the Royal Society, 2007.

Biological Hotspots

(A) Protect other vulnerable species (B) Reduces pure grass lawn space (the matrix)

(C) Increase and maintain biodiversity (D) Get people outside? (Nature Deficit Disorder)

The Schaus swallowtail butterfly is an “Umbrella Species”