Abstract ID: 3.12042 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Arthropods provide vital ecosystem services and are important indicators of ecosystem changes as they are sensitive to environmental changes. Recent studies show alarming rates of decline in insect biomass. These declines are mainly attributed to climate change, habitat transformation, pollution, and invasive species. However, studies for Africa have been mainly focused on short-term rather than long-term studies, which are crucial for understanding the key global change drivers affecting arthropod diversity and assemblages over time. Studies suggest that the Fynbos in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR) is likely to be highly sensitive to climate change, and the Fynbos biome, in particular, will lose large areas of its natural vegetation near its northern limits, especially those along the west coast and in the Cederberg mountains. Most conservation policies for the CFR focused on plants and larger animals, while arthropods are underrepresented. For example, although ants are vital for fynbos seed dispersal and are affected by land transformation and climate change, their distribution and taxonomy are understudied in the CFR. This study aims to assess changes in ant assemblages over a 20-year period. A total of 17 altitudinal bands were sampled at 200-m altitudinal intervals across a historical altitudinal transect in the Cederberg Wilderness Area. Four replicates of 10 pitfall traps were laid at every 200-m interval, totaling 680 pitfall traps per season. Vegetation cover and height at each pitfall trap were recorded and soil samples were collected for soil analysis. Temperature was measured using i-buttons from 2002 until 2022. In this talk, we will present the results of changes observed in ant assemblages over 20 years and how different factors shape their distribution along the altitude. This study’s findings will aid in managing and conserving biodiversity in a major biodiversity hotspot that is vulnerable to global change drivers.