ED009. The use of citizen science to determine the distribution and prevalence of the Argentine ant Linepithema humile (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Quito, Ecuador
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Abstract
Invasive species are a serious threat to native biodiversity and ecosystem function, and invertebrates tend to make exceptionally good invasives through their ability to reproduce and disperse readily. A prevalent cosmopolitan invasive species that thrives in urban environments, is the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile). L. humile was first documented in 2014 but it has been present in the country for many years before that. This study sought to understand the distribution and prevalence of L. humile found within the Metropolitan District of Quito (MDQ). Considering the long period since its likely introduction we hypothesized that the population would be well-established and did not expect an increase in the prevalence of L. humile across its distribution. Over three years (2017-2019), we used citizen science by recruiting students from two different universities, to collect 535 samples from 471 sites across the MDQ. In total, L. humile made up 63.18 % of species collected, suggesting the species dominates the local ant community. Contrary to our predictions, the proportion of L. humile increased over time, from 48.96 % in 2017 to 67.37 % in 2019. Additionally, the proportion of “empty” vials, where no ants were found in the sampling site, decreased over time (from 21.88 % to 14.03 %), suggesting that L. humile increased its prevalence in the community and its abundance and distribution. Future analysis will include spatial analysis and the inclusion of new data to better understand how the distribution of L. humile may have changed over time.
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