scholarly journals Foraging strategy and food preference of Formica polyctena ants in different habitats and possibilities for their use in forest protection

2016 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 223-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Véle ◽  
Roman Modlinger
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Type ◽  
Foraging Strategy ◽  
Food Type ◽  
Considerable Proportion ◽  
Forest Protection ◽  
Formica Polyctena ◽  
Wood Ants ◽  
Type Size ◽  
Biological Protection ◽  
Protein Rich

Abstract Food availability is an important factor influencing the lives of ant colonies. Wood ants consume protein-rich and sugary foods. Protein-rich food is comprised primarily of insects, a considerable proportion of which the ants acquire by direct predation. They therefore play an important function in biological protection of forests. The objective of our study was to determine if workers activity is dependent on habitat type, size of the nest, bait size and food type (sugar, protein). We selected 23 nests in a spruce forest and placed food baits of various sizes and types near each nest. The results obtained show that the number of individuals on the baits was substantially higher in clearings than within mature forest. The number of worker ants recorded on the baits was slightly higher for larger nests. Bait size and type had no influence on the number of workers present. Because wood ants do not focus solely on food of a certain size or quality, they can effectively decrease the abundance of forest pests.

scholarly journals Macromycetes in the forest communities of the Jodły Łaskie nature reserve (Central Poland)

2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-26
Author(s):  
Izabela Kałucka
Keyword(s):  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Considerable Proportion ◽  
Ecological Groups ◽  
Forest Communities ◽  
Central Poland ◽  
The Relationship

The analysis of macromycetes against the background of forest communities is presented in the paper. The relationship between the mycoflora and the exploited habitat - type of phylocoenosis, stand composition, type of substrate, humidity - has been determined referring to ecological groups of fungi. Communities with considerable proportion of fir-tree in stand were particularly taken into consideration.

scholarly journals Consequences of Climate Change-Induced Habitat Conversions on Red Wood Ants in a Central European Mountain: A Case Study

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1677
Author(s):  
Orsolya Juhász ◽  
Ágnes Fürjes-Mikó ◽  
Anna Tenyér ◽  
Anna Ágnes Somogyi ◽  
Dianne Joy Aguilon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Bark Beetle ◽  
Coniferous Forest ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Coniferous Forests ◽  
Central European ◽  
Formica Polyctena ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Red Wood Ants ◽  
Wood Ants

The consequences of anthropogenic climate change are one of the major concerns of conservation biology. A cascade of negative effects is expected to affect various ecosystems, one of which is Central European coniferous forests and their unique biota. These coniferous forests are the primary habitat of many forest specialist species such as red wood ants. Climate change-induced rising of temperature allows trees to skip winter hibernation, making them more vulnerable to storms that cause wind felling, and in turn, promotes bark beetle infestations that results in unscheduled clear-cuttings. Red wood ants can also be exposed to such habitat changes. We investigated the effects of bark beetle-induced clear-cutting and the absence of coniferous trees on colonies of Formica polyctena, including a mixed-coniferous forest as a reference. Our aim was to investigate how these habitat features affect the nest characteristics and nesting habits of F. polyctena. Our results indicate that, in the absence of conifers, F. polyctena tend to use different alternatives for nest material, colony structure, and food sources. However, the vitality of F. polyctena colonies significantly decreased (smaller nest mound volumes). Our study highlights the ecological flexibility of this forest specialist and its potential to survive under extreme conditions.

scholarly journals Behavioural and socially parasitic relations between Polyergus rufescens (Latr.) and Formica polyctena Först. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

2007 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wojciech Czechowski
Keyword(s):  
Natural Conditions ◽  
Formica Polyctena ◽  
Chemical Camouflage ◽  
Białowieża Forest ◽  
Ne Poland ◽  
Formica Fusca ◽  
Wood Ants ◽  
Polyergus Rufescens ◽  
Mutual Relations ◽  
Competition Hierarchy

Polyergus rufescens (Latr.), an obligate slave-maker, and Formica polyctena Först., an aggressive, territorial wood ant species, rarely co-occur in the field, and there are almost no data on their mutual relations under natural conditions. These interactions were studied in the Bialowieza Forest (NE Poland), based on two P. rufescens colonies (with Formica fusca L. slaves) nesting within the territories of F. polyctena. The wood ants routinely searched the immediate vicinity of P. rufescens nests, whereas P. rufescens ants raided F. fusca colonies very close to F. polyctena nests or their columns passed right next to them, they eventually crossed wood ants’ foraging and removal routes, and even directly attacked F. polyctena colonies and robbed their brood. Interspeciflc relations in these particular situations are described and discussed in the contexts of supposed chemical camouflage/mimicry of P. rufescens and interspecific competition hierarchy in ants.

No difference in ectomycorrhizal morphotype composition between abandoned and inhabited nests of wood ants (Formica polyctena) in a central European spruce forest

Geoderma ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 334 ◽  
pp. 55-62
Author(s):  
Veronika Jílková ◽  
Martin Vohník ◽  
Ondřej Mudrák ◽  
Hana Šimáčková ◽  
Jan Frouz
Keyword(s):  
Spruce Forest ◽  
Central European ◽  
Formica Polyctena ◽  
Wood Ants

scholarly journals Wood ants as biological control of the forest pest beetles Ips spp.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gema Trigos-Peral ◽  
Orsolya Juhász ◽  
Péter János Kiss ◽  
Gábor Módra ◽  
Anna Tenyér ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Biological Control ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Bark Beetles ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Forest Pest ◽  
Biological Pest Control ◽  
Formica Polyctena ◽  
Wood Ants ◽  
Wood Boring

AbstractClimate 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 Formica 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 those infested by 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.

scholarly journals Formica rufa ants have a limited effect on the abundance of the parasitic fly Ernestia rudis in Scots pine plantations

Sociobiology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. e7286
Author(s):  
Adam Véle ◽  
Jovan Dobrosavljević
Keyword(s):  
Soil Samples ◽  
The Other ◽  
Pine Plantations ◽  
Limited Effect ◽  
Forest Protection ◽  
Formica Rufa ◽  
Wood Ants ◽  
Formica Rufa Group ◽  
Animal Communities ◽  
Beneficial Organisms

Red wood ants (the Formica rufa group) are important predators which affect animal communities in their territory. Therefore, they are useful in forest protection. On the other hand, they also prey on beneficial organisms. We have asked whether Formica rufa L. affects the abundance of the parasitic flies Ernestia rudis (Fallén). Ten anthills situated in about 40-year- old pine plantations were used for the study. The presence of E. rudis cocoons was assessed in eight soil samples excavated in the surrounding of each nest at a distance of 2–17 m. Our results show a considerably lower abundance of E. rudis only to 4.5 m from the nests. The occurrence of Formica rufa ants therefore had no significant effect on the beneficial E. rudis population in plantation forests, where ants populations are low.

scholarly journals Two distinct morphs in the wood ant Formica polyctena in Finland: a result of hybridization?

2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jouni Sorvari
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Formica Polyctena ◽  
Formica Rufa ◽  
Wood Ants ◽  
Formica Rufa Group ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Worker Caste ◽  
Incomplete Reproductive Isolation

Wide overlaps in morphological characters among species in mound building wood ants of the Formica rufa-group have been a long-standing problem. Previous studies suggest that Formica polyctena samples from Finland may represent two different types based on queen morphology. However, worker caste has not been studied completely. I found that hairiness of workers from different colonies was bimodally distributed. Morphs (based on bimodality) differed in the abundance of erect hairs on eight out of 11 studied body parts. The hairier morph may be result of incomplete reproductive isolation between closely related species.

scholarly journals Studies on the sulfur metabolism of cows on protein-free and low-protein feed

1977 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 264-273
Author(s):  
Eino Matikkala ◽  
Matti Kreula
Keyword(s):  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Sulfur Metabolism ◽  
Nitrogen Sources ◽  
Considerable Proportion ◽  
Sulfate Sulfur ◽  
Low Protein ◽  
Protein Rich ◽  
Protein Feed ◽  
Balance Trials ◽  
Inorganic Sulfate

The influence of purified, protein-free feed with urea and ammonium salts as nitrogen sources (0-feed) and of non-purified, urea-rich, low-protein feeds (ULP-feed) on the sulfur metabolism of cows has been studied by determining the contents of sulfur fractions in faeces, urine, milk, blood and rumen fluid. The sulfur of 0-feed was composed entirely of inorganic sulfate. During balance trials the N:S ratio in the feed varied from 6.1 to 9.5, and the sulfur content from 0.22 to 0.31 % of the dry matter. In every trial (seven with 0-feed and two with ULP-feed), of five or seven days duration, the cows were in high-positive sulfur balance. The 0-cows excreted a greater proportion of their total sulfur output via urine than the ULP-cows. The excretion of inorganic sulfate sulfur, as a proportion of the urinary and faecal sulfur, was greater for 0-cows than for ULP- or NorP-cows (cows on normal, protein-rich feed); the opposite was the case with regard to the excretion of ester sulfate sulfur and neutral sulfur. The sulfur contents of milk and blood showed only minor inter-feed differences. The sulfate content in the rumen fluid of the 0-cow rose rapidly after the commencement of feeding and then fell quite rapidly. We conclude tentatively that in the rumen of the 0-cow hydrogen sulfide is generated so quickly that the whole of it cannot be used for the synthesis of sulfur-containing compounds, a considerable proportion of it being lost in eructations or excreted as inorganic sulfates in the urine.

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