High ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) diversity revealed in Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda

Abstract

Ants represent a crucial component of terrestrial ecosystems owing to their roles in nutrient cycling, soil aeration and predation. However, myrmecological studies are relatively rare in the Afrotropics, including Rwanda. This study reveals high ant diversity within Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda, an ecologically rich area comprising savannas, woodlands and wetlands. A nonsystematic sampling scheme was used across different habitats within the park, implementing various sampling techniques, namely pitfall traps, leaf litter sifting, Winkler leaf litter extraction, vegetation sweeping and hand collection from rocks, rotten wood and dead trees. The findings indicate a high diversity of ant species, with six subfamilies comprising 41 genera including 119 named species and 68 morphospecies. A minimum of 17 of these morphospecies represent undescribed species. Of the collected species, 149 were recorded for the first time in Rwanda. These findings highlight the status of Akagera National Park as a biodiversity hotspot. They also provide a baseline inventory for future entomological, ecological and conservation efforts in Akagera National Park. We recommend additional studies to formally describe the morphospecies currently confirmed as undescribed and to further investigate the status of the remaining unidentified morphospecies.