Increased urbanisation promotes winner‐loser species replacement and shifts in foraging behaviour among ant species in a large neotropical metropolis

Abstract

Abstract Urbanisation creates environmental filters that reshape species behaviour, distribution and community structure. Ants, ecologically dominant in cities, often thrive under urban conditions; however, how urbanisation influences their community structure and foraging strategies remains poorly understood. We investigated the influence of urbanisation on ant community structure (species abundance, richness, taxonomic and functional composition) and foraging behaviour (food resource preference and discovery time) across a gradient of urbanisation intensity in Recife, a major metropolis in northeastern Brazil. We sampled ants using protein‐ and carbohydrate‐based baits at 22 sites representing varying levels of urbanisation, from low‐density residential areas to highly urbanised centres. A total of 42 ant species were recorded across the gradient. While species abundance and richness remained relatively stable, both taxonomic and functional composition shifted significantly with increasing urbanisation. Specialist “loser” species, such as epigaeic predators and cryptic omnivores, declined in favour of generalist “winner” species, including epigaeic omnivores and leaf‐cutting Attini. Foraging behaviour also responded to urbanisation: ants consistently preferred protein‐rich resources, but this preference was not influenced by urbanisation. However, bait discovery time decreased in highly urbanised sites, suggesting that ants forage more efficiently in structurally simplified habitats. Our findings demonstrate that urbanisation drives biotic homogenisation, favouring generalist ants while excluding specialists, and promotes behavioural adaptations that enhance foraging efficiency. These results provide key insights into how urban ecosystems filter species traits and reshape ecological interactions, highlighting the need to consider both community structure and behavioural plasticity when assessing biodiversity responses to urbanisation.