CAREER: Overcoming crown shyness: lianas determine ant community structure in the tropical rain forest canopy

虽然世界上的生物多样性大部分存在于雨林树冠中，但人们对维持这种多样性或使其在整个景观中变化的因素知之甚少。 量化这些因素很重要，因为热带森林的结构正在迅速变化。 特别是，由于干扰和气候变化，一个主要的树冠组成部分“藤本植物”的丰度正在增加。 由于藤本植物在物理上连接着相邻的树木，它们数量的变化应该会影响生活在树冠层中的非飞行动物的分布，行为和多样性。该项目在巴拿马通过创建一个大规模实验来测试这一假设，在该实验中，在一些森林地块上添加或移除藤本植物，而不是在其他地块上。该项目的重点是蚂蚁的反应，因为它们在森林中引人注目，数量众多，并发挥重要的生态作用。 这项研究具体涉及三个相互关联的问题。 首先，藤本植物提供的物理连通性如何影响树冠中的蚂蚁多样性？ 第二，藤本植物是否有助于恢复被砍伐或其他干扰的森林中的冠层蚂蚁群落？最后，不同种类的蚂蚁喜欢使用不同类型的藤本植物吗？为什么？ 热带雨林是世界上研究生物多样性的最佳课堂，该项目为路易斯维尔大学的学生提供了在国际环境中获得宝贵的第一手研究经验的绝佳机会。 同样，巴拿马当地的K-12教师将收集数据，同时编制关于雨林保护的课程，供学年使用。 由于实地是一个受欢迎的旅游目的地，该项目为参与者提供了一个与公众定期互动的独特机会。 此前对雨林树冠的研究已经引起了国际媒体的关注，预计这一项目也会引起类似的公众兴趣。 最后，这项工作将揭示热带森林结构的变化如何在未来几十年内塑造冠层生物多样性。

Although much of the world's biodiversity exists in the rainforest canopy, little is known about the factors that maintain that diversity or cause it to vary across the landscape. Quantifying such factors is important because the structure of tropical forests is rapidly changing. In particular, the abundance of one major canopy component " lianas (woody vines) " is increasing due to disturbance and climate change. Because lianas physically connect neighboring trees, changes in their abundance should affect the distribution, behavior, and diversity of non-flying animals that live in the canopy. This project tests that hypothesis in Panama by creating a large-scale experiment in which lianas are added or removed from some forest plots and not from others. The project focuses on the response of ants because they are conspicuous, abundant, and play important ecological roles in forests. The research specifically addresses three interrelated questions. First, how does the physical connectivity provided by lianas affect ant diversity in tree crowns? Second, do lianas help restore canopy ant communities in forests that have been cut or otherwise disturbed? Finally, do different ant species prefer to use different types of lianas, and why? Tropical rainforests are the world's best classroom for studying biodiversity, and this project provides outstanding opportunities for students at the University of Louisville to gain valuable first-hand research experience in an international setting. Likewise, local K-12 teachers will collect data in Panama while developing curricula on rainforest conservation for use during the school year. Because the field site is a popular tourist destination, the project provides a unique opportunity for participants to interact regularly with the general public. Prior research on rainforest canopies has attracted international media attention, and this project is expected to generate similar public interest. Finally, the work will reveal how changes in tropical forest structure may shape canopy biodiversity over the next several decades.