Effects of trees on ant communities in urban environments: Case study of Salisbury University campus

Urban green space can support high biodiversity, yet the correlation between plants and animals (e.g. how plant composition and structure affect animal community) is still unclear. Ants are ideal bioindicators, they are adapted to many habitats, they can be surveyed in a cost-efficient and time-efficient manner, and they are sensitive to environmental changes. We examined communities on Salisbury University’s campus in order to gain insight into the overall biodiversity in an urban system. Ants were collected from multiple tree species across the campus and then identified to species level. We found a positive correlation between the size of a tree and species richness and that different tree species supported varying levels of ant diversity. Although urban environments are not an ideal habitat for many species, the adverse effects of urbanization can be minimized through proper planning. Meaning that when future cities or campuses are being built, a variety of tree species could be planted and larger trees instead of just saplings. We are responsible for monitoring the effects we have on our local ecosystems, and ensuring that our activities as humans are not leading to the destruction of the environment.