Abstract:

This dataset contains the information of ant species name, relative abundance, collecting location, time, temperature, humidity, and vegetation structure in the coastal dunes along the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Suggested Citation:

Chen, Xuan. 2016. Ant database in coastal dunes of northern Gulf of Mexico. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7FJ2DQ3

Publications:

Chen, X., Adams, B., Bergeron, C., Sabo, A., & Hooper-Bùi, L. (2014). Ant community structure and response to disturbances on coastal dunes of Gulf of Mexico. Journal of Insect Conservation, 19(1), 1–13. doi:10.1007/s10841-014-9722-9

Purpose:

Study the ant diversity, community structure, and functional group in dunes and use ants as indicators to evaluate the influences of disturbance on ecosystems.

Data Parameters and Units:

Date: collecting date Location: name of the Park in which samples were collected Coordinates: latitude logitude Time: collecting time Site: specific habitat in which samples were collected, including 4 habitat: foredune, slack, backdune, and bush area. Temperature: the ground temperature when samples were collected °C Humidity: the ground humidity when samples were collected % Plant cover: the total plant cover of the quadrat in which samples were collected % Plant species: all plants identified in the quadrat. stem num.: stem number of each plant species (number of stem of certain plant species) max/Ave high: the maximum and average of each plant (Maximum and average stem height of certain plant species) flower Y/N: whether the plant has flower or not plant richness (number of plant species) litter depth: the depth of leaf litter under the bush cm-centimeter distance to trunk: the distance from the quadrat to the root of the bush cm-centimeter perimeter of trunk: perimeter of trunk of the target bush cm-centimeter height to base of live crown: the distance between ground to the lowest point of crown cm-centimeter weight of quadrat leaf litter: weight of the leaf litter in the quadrat kg-kilogram St. Joseph Peninsula State Park: 29°50’00”N, 85°24’47”W St. Andrew State Park: 30°07’40”N, 85°43’59”W Grayton Beach State Park: 30°19’28”N, 86°09’15”W Dauphin Island: 30°14’34”N, 88°06’29”W Ship Island National Seashore: 30°12’23”N, 88°58’16”W Topsail Hill Preserve state park: 30°21'50"N, 86°17’53”W Big Lagoon State Park: 30°19’08”N, 87°19’38”W Gulf State Park: 30°14’58”N, 87°39’50”W

Individual Files: