In this study, data collected during postdoctaral studies at the Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa, are analyesed to examine the relationships between local species assemblages, local microclimate and habitat related factors and physiological, behavioural, and morphological traits of the different species. Distribution data is derived from long-term ant monitoring programs covering all major vegetation types of the Western Cape Province including different habitat types from the Cape Floristic Region and Succulent Karoo biodiversity hotspots. Data on critical thermal limits, mass, water content, foraging activity, bait preferences, etc. were collected. In part this was done with the aid of numerous graduate students and postdocs at he Centre of Invasion Biology. Questions of particular interest include the distributions of traits along altitudinal gradients and the match between foraging activity, thermal physiology, and local microclimate. The project is done in collaboration with Prof. Steven L. Chown and Grant Duffy from the School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Australia and the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology at Stellenbosch University in South Africa.