Ant Species Diversity of Mount Everest Section of the Himalaya Mountains

In order to reveal ant diversity law of the Himalaya Mountains, ant species diversity of 30 sample plots from Mount Everest section (altitudes range from 1 840 m to 5 260 m), were measured through sample-plot method. A total of 22 796 individuals, belonging to 3 subfamilies, 13 genera and 23 species, were recognized. The results show that: species numbers are 0-8 (average of 19 species) in each sample plot, individual densities are 0-1 2548 heads/m2 (average of 1078 heads/m2), diversity indexes are 0-1.211 1 (average of 0278 3), evenness indexes are 0020 9-0996 2 (average of 0272 6) and dominant indexes are 0390 3-1000 0 (average of 0599 3); similarity coefficients between ant communities from north slope, mountain valley and south slope are 0091 0-0400 0 (average of 0195 3). Distribution of ant species is deeply influenced by altitude. Slope direction and altitude have important effect in ant community differentiation. We conclude that ant species richness of Mount Everest section is low, very few species lives on north slope and mountain valley, more species dwells on south slope. Ant species number, individual density, diversity indexes and evenness indexes are basically decreasing with altitudes raising, but three index peaks appear at midupper, midlower, and lower potions of the south slope, where are inhabited by the assembles of temperate, midsubtropical and southsubtropical species. We call this phenomenon multidomain effect.