Distribution pattern of ant species from Gaoligong Mountain National Nature Reserve, Yunnan province

To reveal the distribution patterns of ants in the Gaoligong Mountain National Nature Reserve, plot‑based survey method and search method were employed to study the species distribution patterns of ants in this region. A total of 193 ant species belonging to 60 genera and 12 subfamilies were recorded across 20 habitat types. The monsoon evergreen broad‑leaved forests harbored the highest species richness (112 species), followed by the coniferous-broadleaved mixed forests (111 species), while Abies fabri forests had the lowest (only two species). Six species, including Ectomomyrmex javanus, were distributed across nine vertical zones, and seven species, including Pseudolasius emeryi, were found in eight vertical zones. However, a large number of species exhibited narrow distribution ranges, with 98 species (50.8% of the total) confined to only 1-2 vertical zones. Lasius coloratus and Lasius himalayanus possessed the widest vertical distribution ranges, indicating a broad ecological amplitude. Eight species, including Formica gagatoides, had a relatively wide ecological amplitude. Nevertheless, species with narrow or very narrow ecological amplitudes predominated, totaling 150 species (77.7% of the total), among which 43 species occurred only at a single altitude. The majority of ant species primarily inhabited on the ground surface (154 species) and nesting within the soil (87 species). The Gaoligong Mountain National Nature Reserve exhibits rich ant diversity, but most species have limited distribution ranges and narrow ecological amplitudes. Enhanced conservation for locally endemic stenotopic species are recommended.