Spatial distribution of red wood ants and scientific basis of their protection

2011 ◽  
Vol 91 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. V. Gilev
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Scientific Basis ◽  
Red Wood Ants ◽  
Wood Ants

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.

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

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3903 ◽  
Author(s):  
Israel Del Toro ◽  
Gabriele M. 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

Ecological studies often are subjected to unintentional biases, suggesting that improved research designs 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 m 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.

scholarly journals Analysis of the Spatial Distribution of Settlements of Red Wood Ants in the Baikal Region

2019 ◽  
pp. 385-397
Author(s):  
Igor A. Antonov ◽  
Roman K. Fedorov ◽  
Innokentiy A. Bashalkhanov
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Baikal Region ◽  
Forest Plot ◽  
Settlement Density ◽  
Red Wood Ants ◽  
Wood Ants ◽  
Dynamics And Control ◽  
Two Parameters ◽  
And Control ◽  
Mountain Taiga

Outbreaks of defoliating insects constantly emerge and spread in the heavily forested Baikal region. Biological control is the approach of choice in pest management, and red wood ants are used to control defoliating insects at their outbreak sites. The purpose of the present paper is to choose the forest plots with complexes of red wood ant nests in the Baikal region and to estimate the level of protection of these plots from defoliating insects using hybrid geoinformation system (GIS). The Institute for System Dynamics and Control Theory SB RAS geoportal (http://geos.icc.ru) is the hybrid GIS. During fieldwork, 101 nests of F. aquilonia Yarr. and 20 nests of F. lugubris Zett. were found. One hundred and two nests (88 F. aquilonia nests and 14 F. lugubris nests) formed nest complexes and were located on 18 forest plots. Two parameters were used to estimate protection level of forest plots from defoliating insects: the average number of nests per 1 hectare (settlement density) and the total area of dome bases of all anthills located on 1 hectare (power of the nest complex). The research revealed that only four forest plots (“Uzury”, “Khalgay”, “Onguren_2”, and “Onguren_3”), situated in the mountain taiga pine landscape, were protected from defoliating insects (settlement density ≥5 nests/ha and power of nest complex >6 m2/ha). Besides, the complex of nests in the “Onguren_2” forest plot can be a source for capture of filial nests. The “Arshan_2” forest plot, situated in the mountain taiga dark coniferous landscape of reduced development, had the lowest density of settlements of ants (less than two nests per hectare). The state-of-the-art hybrid GIS is a tool that can be used to quickly and efficiently discover and analyze the spatial distribution of settlements of red wood ants

scholarly journals Moving apart together: co-movement of a symbiont community and their ant host, and its importance for community assembly

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Parmentier ◽  
R. Claus ◽  
F. De Laender ◽  
D. Bonte
Keyword(s):  
Community Assembly ◽  
Species Interactions ◽  
Spatial Dynamics ◽  
Joint Movement ◽  
Red Wood Ants ◽  
Ant Nests ◽  
Mobile Species ◽  
Directional Movement ◽  
Wood Ants ◽  
Red Wood Ant

Abstract Background Species interactions may affect spatial dynamics when the movement of one species is determined by the presence of another one. The most direct species-dependence of dispersal is vectored, usually cross-kingdom, movement of immobile parasites, diseases or seeds by mobile animals. Joint movements of species should, however, not be vectored by definition, as even mobile species are predicted to move together when they are tightly connected in symbiont communities. Methods We studied concerted movements in a diverse and heterogeneous community of arthropods (myrmecophiles) associated with red wood ants. We questioned whether joint-movement strategies eventually determine and speed-up community succession. Results We recorded an astonishingly high number of obligate myrmecophiles outside red wood ant nests. They preferentially co-moved with the host ants as the highest densities were found in locations with the highest density of foraging red wood ants, such as along the network of ant trails. These observations suggest that myrmecophiles resort to the host to move away from the nest, and this to a much higher extent than hitherto anticipated. Interestingly, functional groups of symbionts displayed different dispersal kernels, with predatory myrmecophiles moving more frequently and further from the nest than detritivorous myrmecophiles. We discovered that myrmecophile diversity was lower in newly founded nests than in mature red wood ant nests. Most myrmecophiles, however, were able to colonize new nests fast suggesting that the heterogeneity in mobility does not affect community assembly. Conclusions We show that co-movement is not restricted to tight parasitic, or cross-kingdom interactions. Movement in social insect symbiont communities may be heterogeneous and functional group-dependent, but clearly affected by host movement. Ultimately, this co-movement leads to directional movement and allows a fast colonisation of new patches, but not in a predictable way. This study highlights the importance of spatial dynamics of local and regional networks in symbiont metacommunities, of which those of symbionts of social insects are prime examples.

scholarly journals Foraging loads of red wood ants:Formica aquilonia(Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in relation to tree characteristics and stand age

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2049 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heloise Gibb ◽  
Jon Andersson ◽  
Therese Johansson
Keyword(s):  
Large Diameter ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Small Diameter ◽  
Resource Depletion ◽  
Foraging Efficiency ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Resource Quality ◽  
Red Wood Ants ◽  
Wood Ants ◽  
Colony Level

Background.Foraging efficiency is critical in determining the success of organisms and may be affected by a range of factors, including resource distance and quality. For social insects such as ants, outcomes must be considered at the level of both the individual and the colony. It is important to understand whether anthropogenic disturbances, such as forestry, affect foraging loads, independent of effects on the quality and distribution of resources. We asked if ants harvest greater loads from more distant and higher quality resources, how individual efforts scale to the colony level, and whether worker loads are affected by stand age.Methods.First, we performed a fine-scale study examining the effect of distance and resource quality (tree diameter and species) on harvesting of honeydew by red wood ants,Formica aquilonia, in terms of crop load per worker ant and numbers of workers walking up and down each tree (ant activity) (study 1). Second, we modelled what the combination of load and worker number responses meant for colony-level foraging loads. Third, at a larger scale, we asked whether the relationship between worker load and resource quality and distance depended on stand age (study 2).Results.Study 1 revealed that seventy percent of ants descending trees carried honeydew, and the percentage of workers that were honeydew harvesters was not related to tree species or diameter, but increased weakly with distance. Distance positively affected load mass in both studies 1 and 2, while diameter had weak negative effects on load. Relationships between load and distance and diameter did not differ among stands of different ages. Our model showed that colony-level loads declined much more rapidly with distance for small diameter than large diameter trees.Discussion.We suggest that a negative relationship between diameter and honeydew load detected in study 1 might be a result of crowding on large diameter trees close to nests, while the increase in honeydew load with distance may result from resource depletion close to nests. At the colony level, our model suggests that very little honeydew was harvested from more distant trees if they were small, but that more distant larger trees continued to contribute substantially to colony harvest. Although forestry alters the activity and foraging success of red wood ants, study 2 showed that it does not alter the fundamental rules determining the allocation of foraging effort.

scholarly journals Wood Ants: Important Components of the Forest "Immunity System"

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gema Trigos-Peral ◽  
Orsolya Juhász ◽  
Péter János Kiss ◽  
Gábor Módra ◽  
Anna Tenyér ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Bark Beetles ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Biological Pest Control ◽  
European Forests ◽  
Biotic And Abiotic Factors ◽  
Red Wood Ants ◽  
Wood Ants ◽  
Wood Boring

Abstract Climate change is one of the major threats to biodiversity, but its impact varies among the species. Bark beetles (Ips spp.), as well as other wood-boring pests of European forests, show escalating numbers in response to the changes driven by climate change and seriously affect the survival of the forests through the massive killing of trees. Many methods were developed to control these wood-boring beetles, however, their implementation can be detrimental for other forest specialists. Ants are widely used for biological pest-control, so in our study, we aimed to test the effect of F. polyctena on the control of the wood-boring beetles. The results show that the proportion of infested trees is significantly reduced by the increase of the number of F. polyctena nests, with a strong effect on Ips species. We also show that the boring beetle community is shaped by different biotic and abiotic factors, including the presence of F. polyctena nests. However, the boring beetle infestation was not related to the latitude, altitude and age of the forests. Based on our results, we assert the effectiveness of the red wood ants as biological pest control and the importance of their conservation to keep the health of the forests.

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