Tropical land use drives endemic versus exotic ant communities in a global biodiversity hotspot

Abstract Understanding how land-use change affects biodiversity is a fundamental step to develop effective conservation strategies in human-modified tropical landscapes. Here, we analyzed through small-scale agriculture endemic, exotic, and non-endemic native ant communities, focusing on vanilla landscapes north-eastern Madagascar, global hotspot. First, compared species richness composition across seven types: old-growth forest, forest fragment, forest-derived agroforest, fallow-derived woody fallow, herbaceous rice paddy. Second, assessed environmental factors drive the agricultural matrix identify management options that promote endemic while controlling exotic species. We found agroforest supported highest richness. Exotic richness, by contrast, was lowest but fallows, Rice paddy had Ant differed among types, highlighting uniqueness of harboring which are more sensitive disturbance. In matrix, higher canopy closure landscape cover were associated with an increase decrease conclude preserving remnant fragments promoting agroforests greater important complement role forests for Madagascar.