Urbanization causes shifts in the functional traits and foraging activity, and alters food particle size preference and biomass removal of urban-dwelling ants

Urbanization may lead to changes in assemblage and result shifts trait distribution from natural habitats highly urbanized habitats. The shift functional traits can affect ecosystem functions urban areas. This study explored the foraging period of ants over 72 h determined relationship between behavioral, morphological, physiological local foragers environmental conditions forest sites. In addition, this examined ants’ compared it with that their counterparts. Our results revealed (i.e., Cardiocondyla sp.1, Monomorium chinense , Paratrechina longicornis Pheidole megacephala Solenopsis sp.1) areas peaked 0900 1500 some Carebara diversa P. fervens Plagiolepis longwang Nylanderia was constant time. For ants, a weak correlation observed body size Weber’s length head width). finding indicates major factor underlying change might not be related size. Rather, attributed synchronization food availability human activity (waste disposal; i.e., 1800). affects areas, although only one predatory ant species ( ) sampled, its density high. Most these individuals were active during daytime, indicating behavior novel environment has decreased temporally is limited daytime. Urban tended choose smaller particles, whereas preferred larger particles had twofold higher removal rate.