Within territory abundance of red wood ants Formica rufa is associated with the body condition of nestlings in the Eurasian treecreeper Certhia familiaris

2007 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 619-624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ari Jäntti ◽  
Petri Suorsa ◽  
Harri Hakkarainen ◽  
Jouni Sorvari ◽  
Esa Huhta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
The Body ◽  
Formica Rufa ◽  
Red Wood Ants ◽  
Wood Ants ◽  
Certhia Familiaris ◽  
Eurasian Treecreeper

Seasonal Changes in Sugar and Amino Acid Preference in Red Wood Ants of The Formica rufa Group

Sociobiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 144
Author(s):  
Natalia E.L. Madsen ◽  
Joachim Offenberg
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Sugar Solution ◽  
Formica Rufa ◽  
Red Wood Ants ◽  
Wood Ants ◽  
Formica Rufa Group ◽  
Mutualistic Relationship

Red wood ants of the Formica rufa group are important ecosystem engineers throughout the Northern Hemisphere with potential to be commercially produced and used as predatory agents in biological control programs. However, in order to do that, their mutualistic relationship with aphids needs to be disrupted. This may be achieved by developing artificial sugar-based solutions with a composition that makes them more attractive than aphid honeydew. The present field study investigated Formica rufa’s preference for several sugar and amino acid sources, as well as potential seasonal changes in these preferences. Red wood ants consistently preferred sucrose to monosaccharides and were most attracted to solutions containing an amino acid source, albeit seasonal differences were observed with regard to which amino acid sources were most preferred. Recruitment to offered sugar solutions was highest during July, when colony requirements were high, and during October, when alternative food sources were scarce. Since ant preference for sugar solution constituents seems to be species-specific and show seasonal dynamics, artificial food aimed at disrupting ant-aphid mutualisms should be tailored to individual species and seasons.

scholarly journals Large- and Small-Scale Environmental Factors Drive Distributions of Ant Mound Size Across a Latitudinal Gradient

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 350
Author(s):  
Orsolya Juhász ◽  
Zoltán Bátori ◽  
Gema Trigos-Peral ◽  
Gábor Lőrinczi ◽  
Gábor Módra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Latitudinal Gradient ◽  
The Body ◽  
Bergmann’S Rule ◽  
Nest Size ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Bergmann's Rule ◽  
Red Wood Ants ◽  
Wood Ants

Red wood ants are keystone species of forest ecosystems in Europe. Environmental factors and habitat characteristics affect the size of their nest mounds, an important trait being in concordance with a colony’s well-being and impact on its surroundings. In this study, we investigated the effect of large-scale (latitude and altitude) and small-scale environmental factors (e.g., characteristics of the forest) on the size of nest mounds of Formica polyctena in Central Europe. We predicted that the change in nest size is in accordance with Bergmann’s rule that states that the body size of endotherm animals increases with the higher latitude and/or altitude. We found that the size of nests increased along the latitudinal gradient in accordance with Bergmann’s rule. The irradiation was the most important factor responsible for the changes in nest size, but temperature and local factors, like the perimeter of the trees and their distance from the nest, were also involved. Considering our results, we can better understand the long-term effects and consequences of the fast-changing environmental factors on this ecologically important group. This knowledge can contribute to the planning of forest management tactics in concordance with the assurance of the long-term survival of red wood ants.

scholarly journals First In Situ Identification of Ultradian and Infradian Rhythms, and Nocturnal Locomotion Activities of Four Colonies of Red Wood Ants (Formica rufa-Group)

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriele M. Berberich ◽  
Martin B. Berberich ◽  
Aaron M. Ellison ◽  
Arne Grumpe ◽  
Christian Wöhler
Keyword(s):  
Formica Rufa ◽  
Red Wood Ants ◽  
Wood Ants ◽  
Formica Rufa Group ◽  
Infradian Rhythms

scholarly journals Nests of red wood ants (Formica rufa-group) are positively associated with tectonic faults: a double-blind test

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Israel Del Toro ◽  
Gabriele Berberich ◽  
Relena R. Ribbons ◽  
Martin B. Berberich ◽  
Nathan J. Sanders ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Fault System ◽  
Ecological Studies ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Formica Rufa ◽  
Red Wood Ants ◽  
Tectonic Faults ◽  
Wood Ants ◽  
Formica Rufa Group ◽  
Sampling Biases

AbstractEcological studies aim to better understand the distribution and abundances of organisms. Yet ecological works often are subjected to unintentional biases thus an improved framework for hypothesis testing should be used. Double-blind ecological studies are rare but necessary to minimize sampling biases and omission errors and improve the reliability of research. We used a double-blind design to evaluate associations between nests of red wood ants(Formica rufa,RWA) and the distribution of tectonic faults. We randomly sampled two regions in western Denmark to map the spatial distribution of RWA nests. We then calculated nest proximity to the nearest active tectonic faults. Red wood ant nests were eight times more likely to be found within 60 meters of known tectonic faults than were random points in the same region but without nests. This pattern paralleled the directionality of the fault system, with NNE-SSW faults having the strongest associations with RWA nests. The nest locations were collected without knowledge of the spatial distribution of active faults thus we are confident that the results are neither biased nor artefactual. This example highlights the benefits of double-blind designs in reducing sampling biases, testing controversial hypotheses, and increasing the reliability of the conclusions of research.

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