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

尽管世界上大部分生物多样性都存在于热带雨林的树冠层中，但人们对维持这种多样性或导致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，主要的冠层成分“藤本植物”的丰度正在增加。由于藤本植物在物理上连接着邻近的树木，它们数量的变化应该会影响生活在树冠上的非飞行动物的分布、行为和多样性。这个项目在巴拿马进行了一项大规模的实验，在实验中，藤本植物被添加或从一些森林地块中移除，而不是从其他森林地块中移除。该项目重点研究蚂蚁的反应，因为它们在森林中很明显，数量很多，并且起着重要的生态作用。这项研究具体解决了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蚂蚁的多样性？其次，藤本植物是否有助于恢复森林中被砍伐或受到其他干扰的树冠蚂蚁群落？最后，不同种类的蚂蚁是否更喜欢使用不同类型的藤本植物？为什么？热带雨林是世界上研究生物多样性最好的教室，这个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，当地K-12教师将在巴拿马收集数据，同时开发有关热带雨林保护的课程，供学年使用。由于现场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。先前对热带雨林冠层的研究已经引起了国际媒体的关注，而这个项目也有望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.