pitfall trapping (Formicidae)

Knowledge graph centered on pitfall trapping (Formicidae) with 75 nodes and 160 connections. Top connected: Bombus, Ligusticum porteri, Bombus terrestris, Spruce, Asteraceae.

Method synopsis

Standardized 2-hour baiting experiments using 5 different resource types arranged in pentagonal plots to sample ant communities and assess dominance patterns. Records ant abundance and identity at regular time intervals to calculate dominance metrics.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 29 papers using this protocol.

Procedure from a recent peer-reviewed implementation

Steps below were extracted from the most recent peer-reviewed implementation of this protocol in the corpus — Different aspects of dominance are not equivalent when testing for trade-offs in ant communities (2025), Ecology and Evolution. The protocol was originally introduced by The effects of plant succession and ant nest on soil organic matter and soil moisture (2002). Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Stage behavioral dominance assays
   Collected pairs of workers from different taxa and placed in 15mL plastic vials for 5min interaction trials. Scored interactions on 4-point scale: 1=touch/no retreat, 2=avoid/quick retreat, 3=aggressive behaviors, 4=fight/prolonged aggression. Each pair tested minimum 2 sites.
   Quantities: 87 unique pairs tested, 4-19 replicates each, 5min duration, 4-point scoring scaleDuration: 5 minutes per trialConditions: Ants collected within approximately 5m of each other
   Equipment: 15mL plastic vials

Typical Equipment

• plastic discs (6 cm diameter)
• canned tuna in water
• untoasted sesame seeds
• 20% sugar water solution
• 1% saltwater solution
• tap water
• cotton balls
• handheld infrared thermometer (Raytek Raynger 5T)

Output Measurements

• species abundance
• bait monopolization
• discovery order
• dominance scores

Papers Using This Protocol (33)

Species Studied With This Protocol