ABSTRACT
There are several ways to determine absolute nest density of leaf cutting ants (Table 1). However, no one discusses why one method was considered superior to another. Specifically, researchers have not evaluated the cost and precision of each methodology. Without these evaluations, the methods chosen may be inappropriate for the species and environment being studied. However, most researchers have shown a preference for transects in determining leaf-cutting ant densities, probably due to speed and flexibility (Table 1). Thus, an evaluation of variations on the transect method will prove valuable. The transect methods normally used for studying vertebrates may apply to sessile leaf-cutting ant colonies. This paper describes some transect methods and demonstrates their use in the field.
