Australian ant research: fabulous fauna, functional groups, pharmaceuticals, and the Fatherhood
Apart from flies, ants are Australia's most noticeable and studied insects. In addition to their sheer abundance and ubiquity in most terrestrial ecosystems, they are also exceptionally diverse. Here, we outline the history of describing the Australian ant fauna and document the resources that...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
2004
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/20397 |
| _version_ | 1848750294093004800 |
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| author | Majer, Jonathan Shattuck, S. O. Andersen, A. N. |
| author_facet | Majer, Jonathan Shattuck, S. O. Andersen, A. N. |
| author_sort | Majer, Jonathan |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Apart from flies, ants are Australia's most noticeable and studied insects. In addition to their sheer abundance and ubiquity in most terrestrial ecosystems, they are also exceptionally diverse. Here, we outline the history of describing the Australian ant fauna and document the resources that are available for identifying and researching them. Unusual patterns in chromosome numbers in individual species are discussed, and the rediscovery of an ancient ant is described. A framework for understanding the dynamics of Australian ant communities is outlined, and the functional groups that fall within this framework are documented. The predictability of responses of ant communities to stress and disturbance has enabled a protocol for using ants as bioindicators of environmental health and integrity to be developed. This has been exported and adapted to other regions of the world. Australian ant research has also lead to promising sources of biopharmaceuticals. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T07:34:32Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-20397 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T07:34:32Z |
| publishDate | 2004 |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-203972017-09-13T15:58:24Z Australian ant research: fabulous fauna, functional groups, pharmaceuticals, and the Fatherhood Majer, Jonathan Shattuck, S. O. Andersen, A. N. Apart from flies, ants are Australia's most noticeable and studied insects. In addition to their sheer abundance and ubiquity in most terrestrial ecosystems, they are also exceptionally diverse. Here, we outline the history of describing the Australian ant fauna and document the resources that are available for identifying and researching them. Unusual patterns in chromosome numbers in individual species are discussed, and the rediscovery of an ancient ant is described. A framework for understanding the dynamics of Australian ant communities is outlined, and the functional groups that fall within this framework are documented. The predictability of responses of ant communities to stress and disturbance has enabled a protocol for using ants as bioindicators of environmental health and integrity to be developed. This has been exported and adapted to other regions of the world. Australian ant research has also lead to promising sources of biopharmaceuticals. 2004 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/20397 10.1111/j.1326-6756.2004.00435.x restricted |
| spellingShingle | Majer, Jonathan Shattuck, S. O. Andersen, A. N. Australian ant research: fabulous fauna, functional groups, pharmaceuticals, and the Fatherhood |
| title | Australian ant research: fabulous fauna, functional groups, pharmaceuticals, and the Fatherhood |
| title_full | Australian ant research: fabulous fauna, functional groups, pharmaceuticals, and the Fatherhood |
| title_fullStr | Australian ant research: fabulous fauna, functional groups, pharmaceuticals, and the Fatherhood |
| title_full_unstemmed | Australian ant research: fabulous fauna, functional groups, pharmaceuticals, and the Fatherhood |
| title_short | Australian ant research: fabulous fauna, functional groups, pharmaceuticals, and the Fatherhood |
| title_sort | australian ant research: fabulous fauna, functional groups, pharmaceuticals, and the fatherhood |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/20397 |