TABLE 2.   Ranking of target genera according to their ability to estimate total ant species richness at a site (hectare scale), based on correlations with within-genus richness (data from Andersen 1997c ). Two groups of regional sites are recognized, those representing a single habitat type but varying in disturbance, and those representing variation between habitats.

Within Habitat Between habitats
Melophorus Melophorus
Rhytidoponera Meranoplus
Monomorium Rhytidoponera
Pheidole Monomorium
Polyrhachis Pheidole
Meranoplus Iridomyrmex
Camponotus Polyrhachis
Iridomyrmex Camponotus