Three energy variables predict ant abundance at a geographical scale

Energy theory posits three processes that link local abundance of ectotherms to geographical gradients in temperature. A survey of 49 New World habitats found a two order of magnitude span in the abundance (nests m(-2)) of ground nesting ants (Formicidae). Abundance increased with net primary productivity (r(2)=0.55), a measure of the baseline supply of harvestable energy. Abundance further increased with mean temperature (r(2)=0.056), a constraint on foraging activity for this thermophilic taxon. Finally, for a given mean temperature, ants were more abundant in seasonal sites with longer, colder winters (r(2)=0.082) that help ectotherm taxa sequester harvested energy in non-productive months. All three variables are currently changing on a global scale. All should be useful in predicting biotic responses to climate change.