What results from the resource concentration and exclusion of other insects by supercolonies?
Answer
Simplification of the biodiversity of the affected area
When *A. gracilipes* establishes hyper-dominant supercolonies, they achieve population densities that lead to the near-total exclusion of other ground-dwelling insects and arthropods through direct competition and predation. This concentration of resources and elimination of other insect life results in an ecological void, leading directly to the simplification of the local biodiversity. This simplification inherently makes the ecosystem more fragile, as fewer species exist to fill critical roles if the dominant ant population later faces a threat.
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