UrbanAnts: An R Shiny app for exploring ant diversity data in urban environments

With the advance of urbanisation and the challenges associated with the process of documenting new species, biodiversity is increasingly threatened, especially in urban areas, where species are more exposed to the negative effects of landscape transformation. In this context, databases are fundamental tools for documenting, monitoring and conserving biological diversity. Within this scope, UrbanAnts was developed as a web application designed to centralise information on ant diversity and occurrences in urban environments. The platform was created using the Shiny framework, built on the R programming language and integrated with a relational SQLite database. UrbanAnts improves accessibility and streamlines data exploration, enabling users to efficiently retrieve and analyse information. In addition, it serves as a tool that highlights the importance of conserving the diversity of ant fauna in urban environments. This database is accessible to the public through the dissemination of knowledge and the encouragement of participation, allowing contributions from both professionals who study ants and members of the general public interested in collaborating through citizen science.