Riqueza de formigas em áreas preservadas e em regeneração de caatinga arbustiva no sudoeste da Bahia, Brasil

This study aimed to verify if ants richness in an arbustive caatinga area is influenced by its preservation degree. Ants were collected using pitfall traps and litter samples in three preserved areas and three areas that are in natural regeneration for 15 years. Thirty-two ant species were registered belonging to six subfamilies. Significant difference in ants richness between preserved and regeneration areas wasn´t found. Probably regeneration areas have enough structural heterogeneity for allow the coexistence of a large number of species.