Data from: Taxonomic and functional ant diversity along a secondary successional gradient in a tropical forest

The taxonomic diversity (TD) of tropical flora and fauna tends to
increase during secondary succession. This increase may be accompanied by
changes in functional diversity (FD), although the relationship between TD
and FD is not well understood. To explore this relationship, we examined
the correlations between the TD and FD of ants and forest age in secondary
forests at the a- and b-diversity levels using single- and
multi-trait-based approaches. Our objectives were to understand ant
diversity patterns and to evaluate the role of secondary forests in the
conservation of biodiversity and in the resilience of tropical forests. Ant
assemblages were sampled across a chronosequence in the Lacandon region,
Mexico. All species were characterised according to 12 functional
ecomorphological traits relevant to their feeding behaviour. We found that
TD and FD were related to forest age at the alpha level, but not at the
beta level. a-functional richness and divergence increased linearly with
species richness and diversity, respectively. Also, the relationship
between taxonomic and functional turnover was linear and positive. Our
results indicated that functional traits were complementary across the
chronosequence. The increase in FD was mainly driven by the addition of
rare species with relevant traits. The older secondary forests did not
recover all of the functions of old growth forest but did show a tendency
to recovery. Because older successional stages support more TD and FD, we
suggest developing agriculture and forestry management practices that
facilitate rapid post-agricultural succession and thereby better preserve
the functionality of tropical forests.