Ant communities in the Galápagos: A baseline for biodiversity monitoring

This dataset provides occurrence-level records from the first two years (2023–2024) of the annual ant monitoring program conducted on San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos (Ecuador). San Cristóbal is the second most populated island in the archipelago and a major port of entry. Sampling followed a standardized protocol combining pitfall trapping and manual collection across an altitudinal range (0–600 m a.s.l.), three native plant covers, and three land-use categories: urban, agricultural, and protected areas.

Ant specimens were identified to species or morphospecies level using published taxonomic keys. The dataset includes 79 COI-5P accessions, which correspond to 32 Barcode Index Numbers (BINs) assigned in BOLD, complementing the morphological identifications.

This first release includes all sampling event data from January 2023 and May–June 2024. The dataset comprises 1,755 occurrence records representing 17,816 specimens from 31 ant species, accounting for about 66% of the species reported for the archipelago. Samples without ants were also included in the dataset and recorded as “No catch” (Formicidae = 0). Data from subsequent years will be incorporated as the monitoring program continues.