The Red Wood AntFormica aquilonia(Hymenoptera : Formicidae) May Affect Both Local Species Richness and Composition at Multiple Trophic Levels in a Boreal Forest Ecosystem
| Autor: | Ivar Gjerde, Karl H. Thunes, John Skartveit |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2018 |
| Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
Ecology biology fungi food and beverages Boreal ecosystem biochemical phenomena metabolism and nutrition biology.organism_classification 010603 evolutionary biology 01 natural sciences Formica aquilonia Ecosystem engineer 010602 entomology Abundance (ecology) Animal Science and Zoology Ecosystem Species richness Epiphyte Lichen Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics Nature and Landscape Conservation |
| Zdroj: | Annales Zoologici Fennici. 55:159-172 |
| ISSN: | 1797-2450 0003-455X |
| Popis: | In temperate forests, red wood ants (Formica aquilonia) are considered ecosystem engineers affecting ecosystem properties and functions. Possible effects of F. aquilonia ants on species communities of invertebrates and plants were studied in the pine-dominated Geitaknottane forest reserve, Norway. Species richness of carabids, lichens and epiphytes (tree-living lichens and bryophytes) was negatively affected by ant mound density. Species of all groups, except for lichens and snails, were affected either positively or negatively by ant presence. Food availability and interference competition are plausible explanations of decreased species richness and negative species associations in carabids; while collecting, foraging and changed chemical environment may explain decreased species richness in lichens and epiphytes. Thirteen out of 15 plant and invertebrate species were weakly associated with ant mound density. Associations of only two species (Carabus violaceus and Drusilla canaliculata) were negative, while Pella humeralis and Agroeca proxima were associated positively and very strongly with ant mounds. Positive associations with ants of those invertebrates may be a response to excessive abundance of food and chemical mimicry. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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