Post AuhYPcbIBVcnSP1nKS by joncounts@mastodon.nz
(DIR) More posts by joncounts@mastodon.nz
(DIR) Post #AuhUicA5dlf7mX6aki by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-06-01T22:37:09Z
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This map is pretty accurate. However, these are described ants and I think the numbers in south Asia are low... that is the region of peak ant diversity. There are many more ants to be described. Well and Australian antkeepers have just so much wealth its upsetting. The US and Mexico aren't doing *so* bad. And we have leafcutters and other fungi farming ants and only SA also gets to enjoy such creatures. Via Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ant/comments/1l0oehc/the_50_countries_with_the_most_ant_species/
(DIR) Post #AuhVPFfL9i5GSp3Mu0 by joncounts@mastodon.nz
2025-06-01T22:44:49Z
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@futurebird Um, New Zealand? Trimmed off the global map again. :laserkiwi:
(DIR) Post #AuhVYNesoC1drJBzlo by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-06-01T22:46:30Z
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@joncounts To be fair ya'll were NOT making the ant species top fifty with just a few dozen species. It's a little disturbing how few ants are in NZ. It must have been very cold for a period ...
(DIR) Post #AuhVsKBvPOriti9ps8 by TreeStarMan@mastodon.social
2025-06-01T22:50:04Z
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@futurebird #Aotearoa/New Zealand is thankfully missing from the map so that the ants don't begin to regard our country as a desirable destination.
(DIR) Post #AuhYPcbIBVcnSP1nKS by joncounts@mastodon.nz
2025-06-01T23:18:29Z
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@futurebird Yes, the glacial maxima were cold in NZ. Cold was the normal here for most of the past million years of so, and it’s the conditions most of our native species thrive in. Since we’re isolated, most warm loving species (eg most ants) were lost.Now that we’re in one of the short warm interglacial periods, and on top of that humans have added lots of fossil fuel powered global warming, NZ is *way* warmer than what most native species like best. As a result, and helped by global trade and tourism, we’re quickly filling up with Australian species, while many of our native species are migrating southwards.
(DIR) Post #AuhYQoyZesDY82UQtM by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-06-01T23:18:40Z
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@TreeStarMan There are only 11 endemic species! And even those don't go back deep into the past. There are some introduced species and they are causing problems.
(DIR) Post #AuhZYbnAex7jVhQvM8 by TreeStarMan@mastodon.social
2025-06-01T23:31:21Z
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@futurebird We'll just keep our heads down here in the remotest regions of the south Pacific. 🙂
(DIR) Post #AuhZv3ltJVCaepXYcS by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-06-01T23:35:23Z
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@joncounts Have you considered towing the islands south a bit? /jk
(DIR) Post #Auha0p9eZTKh3uP4im by barrygoldman1@sauropods.win
2025-06-01T23:36:27Z
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@futurebird # spp per nation is a very artificial way to look! it should be # per square mile or 1000 square miles...i remember reading a paper 2 decades ago on the 10 ant species in alaska.curious no data for canada? I know there's was a guy in chicoutamie (?) quebec doing a revision of Formica...
(DIR) Post #Auha68bhfuFwqB3ccS by barrygoldman1@sauropods.win
2025-06-01T23:37:26Z
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@futurebird the map mostly shows where the myrmecologists live or like to study. there are not MANY myrmecologists to go around!
(DIR) Post #Auha8Js0loW2Lqj3HU by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-06-01T23:37:51Z
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@barrygoldman1 Canada isn't in the top 50.I think I saw a density map like what you described, I will see if I can find it again.
(DIR) Post #AuhaHC1bJAzEcrRTaS by barrygoldman1@sauropods.win
2025-06-01T23:39:25Z
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@futurebird but it foolishly shows alaska in red! just aint enough myrmecologists in canada!
(DIR) Post #Aui8IuTutxtdEkg2am by joncounts@mastodon.nz
2025-06-02T06:00:38Z
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@futurebird Good thinking. If we could find Māui to help, that might be possible. Legend has it that he's moved the South Island-Te Wai Pounamu about before, using it as a waka for fishing.https://eng.mataurangamaori.tki.org.nz/Support-materials/Te-Reo-Maori/Maori-Myths-Legends-and-Contemporary-Stories/Maui-and-the-giant-fish