DOCSLIB.ORG

Negative Effects of the Western Thatching Ant (Formica Obscuripes) on Spiders (Araneae) Inhabiting Big Sagebrush (Artemisia Tridentata)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Negative Effects of the Western Thatching Ant (Formica Obscuripes) on Spiders (Araneae) Inhabiting Big Sagebrush (Artemisia Tridentata) Great Basin Naturalist Volume 59 Number 4 Article 11 10-15-1999 Negative effects of the western thatching ant (Formica obscuripes) on spiders (Araneae) inhabiting big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) Michael W. Heikkinen Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn Recommended Citation Heikkinen, Michael W. (1999) "Negative effects of the western thatching ant (Formica obscuripes) on spiders (Araneae) inhabiting big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata)," Great Basin Naturalist: Vol. 59 : No. 4 , Article 11. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn/vol59/iss4/11 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Western North American Naturalist Publications at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Great Basin Naturalist by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Grent Basin Nilturulist 59(4), el999, pp. 380-383 NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF THE WESTERN THATCHING ANT (FORMICA OBSCUillPES) ON SPIDERS (ARANEAE) INHABITING BIG SAGEBRUSH (ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA) Michael W. Heikkinen 1 An.\1:UACT.-Th<.~ effect of thatching ants (Formica obscuripes) on number of spiders found on sagebrush <Artemisia tritl.crua:a) was determined by comparing spider abundance on shrubs at diffcl'li'nt distances from ant mounw. Spider ahundance was inversely related to proximity to mounds. Spider abundance on shrubs around abandoned mounds revealed no effccts of mound proximity. Two mounds in which ants were exterminated showed a declining effect of mound proximity 1 month after treabnent. One yera after treatment there was no effect. Kay WOt-d..~: Amneae. Formica obscnripes, Artemisia tridentata, rompetit:icn. Ants exert significant influences on their F. obscuripes suggested that ants depress spi­ environments (Petal 1978) by limiting plant der abundances. In this study the effect of F growth (Ryti 1992) or increasing heterogeneity obscuri,pes on spider abundance on sagebrush ofplant communities (Beattie and Culver 1977). was measured at varying distances from active "In the forests ofFinland ants are the premier ant mounds, abandoned mounds, and mounds predators, scavengers, and turners of soil" from which anL<; were exterminated, (Holldobler and Wilson 1994:6). Many ants sig­ nificantly rednm populations ofarthropods with­ METHODS in their foraging area because of their inten~ sive foraging activity, social life, and polyph­ Surveys were conducted at 2 sites in the agy (Petal 1978, Bolldobler and Wilson 1990, Cache National Forest, Cache County, Utah: McIver et al. 1997). High Creek, which is northeast of Richmond Thatching ant, (Formica obscuripes) produce at 41°55'5.5"N, 111°4(}'20"1.v, and Cherry Creek, large mounds that are covered by small piece.s 4.8 km south of High Creek at 41°58'43"N, of plant material, often at the base of a shrub 111°44'44"W. Both are in shrub-steppe habitat (Allred 1982). They prey on insects, forage on at 1600 m elevation. dead insects, consume honeydew which they Three treatments were studied: active ant harvest from aphids, and occasionally eatplant mounds, abandoned ant mounds, and mounds tissue (Wheeler and Wheeler 1963, Beattie in which an ts were removed by treating with and Culver 1977, Petal 1978, Douglas and 225 g granular Diazanon per mound watered Sudd 1980, H611dobler and WIlson 1994). in with 2 gallons ofwater. No si!,'Uificant differences were found in Surveys of spiders on sagebrush near 2 the spider fauna of areas inside aud outside active aot mounds at High Creek were con­ the hunting area of the red wood ant, Fom'ica ducted in June and Angust 1995 and August polyctelw (Bruning 1991), and spider species 1996. Spiders on sagebrush near 4 active composition was not influenced by presence mounds at Cheny Creek were surveyed in of ant mounds in the Netherlands (Van der August 1996. Surveys of spiders on sagebrush Aart and DeWit 1971). Yet, an experimental near 3 abandoned ant mounds at Cherry Creek removal of ants from canopies of Douglas-fir were conducted during Angust 1996. Ants were (Psem:Wtsuga, menziesii) increased the number experimentally eliminated from 2 mOlll1ds at ofhunting spiders (Halaj et al. 1997). Cheny Creek in August 1997, and the subse­ Casual observations of spider abuodance quent effect on spider abundance was mea­ on shrubs at varying distances from mounds of sured in September 1997 and July 1998. 380 1999] NEGATIVE EFFECfS OF A"rrs ON SPIDERS 381 TABLE 1. Variables associated with each thatching ant motmd and results of the regression of distance from mound and spider abundance (transformed to square root ofspider abundance). Year Treatment Date Mound P ¥- intercept Slope 1995 Active 30 June HCla 0.004 0.7 0.195 Active 13 Aug HC2 0.048 2.3 0.048 1996 Active 15 Aug HCl 0.000 1.8 0.488 Active 15 Aug HC2 0.000 2.2 0.494 Active 1 Aug CCl" 0.008 1.5 0.268 Active 1 Aug CC2 0.003 0.1 0.305 Active 6 Aug CC3 0.004 0.4 0.400 Active 6 Aug CC4 0.001 -0.5 0.629 Abandoned 17 Aug CCAI 0.303 4.6 0.155 Abandoned 17 Aug CCA2 0.289 4.8 0.107 Abandoned 17 Aug CCA3 0.491 4.7 -0.130 Treated 11 Sept CC2 0.014 2.4 0.154 'freated II Sept CC3 0.029 2.4 0.160 1997 1reated 24 July CC2 0.237 2.5 0.090 ueated 24 July CC3 0.092 2.4 0.111 -He", High C.....dt. hcc '" CI'oefT)' Creek. Surveys were conducted by establishing would no longer increase as distance from the thre<l12-m lines from each mound and collect­ mound increased. ing spiders on each shrub along these lines. To identify the distance where the effect of The 3 lines were '~sually selected so they ants was not significant, a series of regression would intersect the greatest number of shrubs equations was produced for each active mound. and still be relatively evenly spaced around In the 1st step the data were divided into 2 the mound. Spiders were collected using a groups based on a fixed distance from the beating sheet (Southwood 1978), after which mound, and a regression line was fitted to they were preserved in 70% ethanol and taken each set of data. This was done repeatedly by to the laboratory for sorting and counting. The regrouping the data at 1-m intervals from 2 to distance from the mound to eacb sbrub was 9 m to find the point that divided the data into measured to the nearest 0.1 m. 2 groups in which the group closer to the mound had a significant positive slope and the RESULTS more distant group had a slope that was not significantly different from zero. Wben a dis­ Analysis was conducted for individual tance was identified, the analysis was refined mounds because size of mound, size of shrub, by repeating the process by dividing the dis­ and time of year can affeet number of spiders found on shrubs. Regression analysis was used tance into groups based on O.l-m increments. to examine the relationship of spider abun­ The distance that met the criteria listed above dance on sagebrush and proximity to thatch­ and had the lowest sum of squared residuals ing ant mounds. Spider numbers were trans­ was identified and used in the next procedure. formed using the square root of spider abun­ Once a point was identified, a new single dance per shrub to reduce ditferences in vari­ regression equation was computed in which ance. Results are shown in Table 1. the slope of the regression line was assumed to Regression analyses for surveys of spider change at the point identified. Both slopes were abundance near the 3 abandoned mounds then forced through a single point at the iden­ found no significant relationship between dis­ tified distance. Results are shown in Table 2. tance of shrubs from the mound and spider ldentified points ranged from 6.0 to 8.6 m abundance per shrub (P = 0.289--0.491). Eight from mounds. Curves produced by this proce­ regression analyses for surveys of active dure significantly fit the data (P = 0.001-0.039). mounds were significant (P = 0.001-0.048); Y-intercepts ranged from - 0.10 to 1.80. Since however, it was not logical that the number of the data were transformed, the number of spi­ spiders would rise continuously. There had to ders at zero distance from the mound ranged be a point at which the number of spiders from -0.01 to 3.2. 382 GREAT BASIN NATUJ\ALlST [Volume 59 TAUI.J~ Z. Purameters derived from 2 slope models developt'.d to predict tile effect of proximity to thatching ant mounds on !lvidcr llulindam..-e on sagebrush. PI'edictw Pre<]jcted D spider spider abl1fl~ (distance ubund.1.nce Slope dam..-e wht::re to slope pror at 0.0 m lor 0.0 slope cMnges Year Mound change) model from mound toD to 7.t:t'O 1995 HeIR 8.0 0.004 0.16 0.28 2.7 HC2 8.6 0.039 3.24 0.32 4.4 1996 HCI 7.0 0.001 1.04 0.74 6.2 IlC2 7.7 0.002 0.0004 0.55 5.9 cel" 8.0 0.012 -0.0004 0.62 4.8 Cc,'2 6.0 0.000 -0.0001 0.61 4.0 CC3 7.8 0.009 0.25 0.50 4.4 CC4 8.0 0.002 -O.Ql 0.36 2.8 CC2 (t,ent",l) 8.1 NS CC3 (treated) 8.0 NS Bile = I fiJ:h Cnd.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Journal of Field Ecology 2009
    Journal of Field Ecology 2009 FOREST DYNAMICS Species-independent, Scale-invariant self-similarity in the Daniel Poon 7 allometry of branches and trunks within a heterogeneous forest Disturbance and fire refugia: deviations from invariant scaling Jane Remfert 14 relations across plant communities Looking for a DBH power function in Cassandra Bog Woods Elizabeth Hood 20 Testing for self thinning in oaks and comparing results in the Melissa Brady 25 presence of Gayluccacia Biases in spatial sampling for size frequency distributions Theresa Ong 31 Neutral theory and the predictions of the species distribution of an Melissa Brady 43 edge habitat Seedling establishment over a disturbance gradient exposes a Daniel Poon 47 species dominance shift within an oak-hickory forest SPATIAL PATTERN FORMATION Examining ant mosaic in the Big Woods of the E.S. George Hyunmin Han 55 Reserve Adventures in self-organization: spatial distribution of Japanese Amanda Grimm 63 Barberry in the E.S. George Reserve Distribution of Sarracenia purpurea clusters in Hidden Lake Hyunmin Han 68 Bog of the E.S. George Reserve BOTANY A survey of host-liana relationships in a Michigan oak-hickory Jane Remfert 74 forest: specificity and overwhelmedness Vine distribution and colonization preferences in the Big Woods Alexa Unruh 81 Examining the relationship between growth and reproduction in Megan Banka 88 perennial forbs Ramets and rhizomes: trade-offs in clonal plants in relation to Elizabeth Hood 96 water availability Hybridization among Quercus veluntina and Quercus rubra is Semoya Phillips 100 evident but a pattern of organization is not COMMUNITY COMPOSITION The halo of life: patterns in ant species richness in a Michigan Leslie McGinnis 105 scrubland The effect of an environmental gradient on species abundance in Jane Skillman 111 Cassandra Bog Stands of Typha sp.
    [Show full text]
  • Larval-Ant Interactions in the Mojave Desert: Communication Brings Us Together
    UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones May 2018 Larval-Ant Interactions in the Mojave Desert: Communication Brings Us Together Alicia Mellor Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations Part of the Environmental Sciences Commons, and the Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons Repository Citation Mellor, Alicia, "Larval-Ant Interactions in the Mojave Desert: Communication Brings Us Together" (2018). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 3291. http://dx.doi.org/10.34917/13568598 This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. LARVAL‐ANT INTERACTIONS IN THE MOJAVE DESERT: COMMUNICATION BRINGS US TOGETHER By Alicia M. Mellor Bachelor of Science – Biological Sciences Colorado Mesa University 2013 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science – Biological Sciences College of Sciences School of Life Sciences The Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas May 2018 Thesis Approval The Graduate College The University of Nevada, Las Vegas April 12, 2018 This thesis prepared by Alicia M.
    [Show full text]
  • Trophobiosis Between Formicidae and Hemiptera (Sternorrhyncha and Auchenorrhyncha): an Overview
    December, 2001 Neotropical Entomology 30(4) 501 FORUM Trophobiosis Between Formicidae and Hemiptera (Sternorrhyncha and Auchenorrhyncha): an Overview JACQUES H.C. DELABIE 1Lab. Mirmecologia, UPA Convênio CEPLAC/UESC, Centro de Pesquisas do Cacau, CEPLAC, C. postal 7, 45600-000, Itabuna, BA and Depto. Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Univ. Estadual de Santa Cruz, 45660-000, Ilhéus, BA, [email protected] Neotropical Entomology 30(4): 501-516 (2001) Trofobiose Entre Formicidae e Hemiptera (Sternorrhyncha e Auchenorrhyncha): Uma Visão Geral RESUMO – Fêz-se uma revisão sobre a relação conhecida como trofobiose e que ocorre de forma convergente entre formigas e diferentes grupos de Hemiptera Sternorrhyncha e Auchenorrhyncha (até então conhecidos como ‘Homoptera’). As principais características dos ‘Homoptera’ e dos Formicidae que favorecem as interações trofobióticas, tais como a excreção de honeydew por insetos sugadores, atendimento por formigas e necessidades fisiológicas dos dois grupos de insetos, são discutidas. Aspectos da sua evolução convergente são apresenta- dos. O sistema mais arcaico não é exatamente trofobiótico, as forrageadoras coletam o honeydew despejado ao acaso na folhagem por indivíduos ou grupos de ‘Homoptera’ não associados. As relações trofobióticas mais comuns são facultativas, no entanto, esta forma de mutualismo é extremamente diversificada e é responsável por numerosas adaptações fisiológicas, morfológicas ou comportamentais entre os ‘Homoptera’, em particular Sternorrhyncha. As trofobioses mais diferenciadas são verdadeiras simbioses onde as adaptações mais extremas são observadas do lado dos ‘Homoptera’. Ao mesmo tempo, as formigas mostram adaptações comportamentais que resultam de um longo período de coevolução. Considerando-se os inse- tos sugadores como principais pragas dos cultivos em nível mundial, as implicações das rela- ções trofobióticas são discutidas no contexto das comunidades de insetos em geral, focalizan- do os problemas que geram em Manejo Integrado de Pragas (MIP), em particular.
    [Show full text]
  • Full Issue, Vol. 59 No. 4
    Great Basin Naturalist Volume 59 Number 4 Article 15 10-15-1999 Full Issue, Vol. 59 No. 4 Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn Recommended Citation (1999) "Full Issue, Vol. 59 No. 4," Great Basin Naturalist: Vol. 59 : No. 4 , Article 15. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn/vol59/iss4/15 This Full Issue is brought to you for free and open access by the Western North American Naturalist Publications at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Great Basin Naturalist by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. T H E GGREATREA BASIN naturalist A VOLUME 59 n2naN 4 OCTOBER 1999 ML BEAN LIFE SCIENCE MUSEUM BRIGHAM YOUNG university GREAT BASIN naturalist httwww1ibbytleduhttp wwwlibbyu edu amsnms FAX 8013783733801 378 3733 editor assistant editor RICHARD W BAUMANN NATHAN M SMITH 290 MLBM 190 MLBM PO box 20200 PO box 26879 brigham young university brigham young university provo UT 84602020084602 0200 provo UT 84602687984602 6879 8013785492801 378 5492 8013786688801 378 6688 emailE mail richardriehardricharclbaumannbyuedubaumannbyuedu emailE mail nathansmithbyuedunathan smithbyuedu associate editors JAMES C CALLISON JBJR JERRY H SCRIVNER department of environmental technology department of biology utah valley state college ricks college oremutoremusorem UT 84058 rexburgredburgRexburg ID 83460110083460 1100 JEFFREY R JOHANSEN STANLEYSTANLEYD D SMITH department of biology john carroll university
    [Show full text]
  • A Field Study of the Nesting Ecology of the Thatching Ant, Formica Obscuripes Forel, at High Altitude in Colorado
    Great Basin Naturalist Volume 56 Number 4 Article 6 11-21-1996 A field study of the nesting ecology of the thatching ant, Formica obscuripes Forel, at high altitude in Colorado John R. Conway University of Scranton, Scranton, Pennsylvania Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn Recommended Citation Conway, John R. (1996) "A field study of the nesting ecology of the thatching ant, Formica obscuripes Forel, at high altitude in Colorado," Great Basin Naturalist: Vol. 56 : No. 4 , Article 6. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn/vol56/iss4/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Western North American Naturalist Publications at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Great Basin Naturalist by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Great Basin Naturalist 56(4), © 1996, pp. 326-332 A FIELD STUDY OF THE NESTING ECOLOGY OF THE THATCHING ANT, FORMICA OBSCURIPES FOREL, AT HIGH ALTITUDE IN COLORADO John R. Conwayl AB~TRAGe-A field study of the thatching ant, Formica ohscuripes Forel, at 2560 m elevation in Colorado provided information on mound density, composition, dimensions, and temperatures; worker longevity; and mite parasitization. Density was 115 moundsftla. Mounds had 1-52 entrances and PeromysCU8 fecal pellets in the thatch. Mounds conserved heat and exhibited thermal stratification. Excavations of 4 nests revealed depths of 0.3 m to almost 1 m, novel myrme­ cophiles, and 0-198 wingless queens per nest. Marking experiments demonstrated that some workers overwinter and live more than a yea!: Key words: Formica obscuripes, thatching ant, Colorado, ant mouruls, myrmecophiles.
    [Show full text]
  • March 2020 CURRICULUM VITAE David C. Culver Department Of
    March 2020 CURRICULUM VITAE David C. Culver Department of Environmental Science American University 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20016 [email protected] 1. Education: B.A. in Biology with Honors, Grinnell College, 1966 Ph.D. in Biology, Yale University, 1970 (Dissertation: Analysis of Simple Cave Communities, Advisor: Thomas L. Poulson) 2. Positions Held: Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow in Population Biology at the University of Chicago (1970-1971) Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences at Northwestern University (1971-1975) Visiting Associate Professor of Human Ecology, Harvard University (1975) Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Northwestern University (1975-1980) Professor of Biological Sciences at Northwestern University (1980-1981) Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Northwestern University (1981-1987) Professor of Biology at American University, Washington, D.C. (1987-2011) Professor of Environmental Science at American University, Washington, D.C. (2008 – 2015) Associate Researcher at Karst Research Institute ZRC SAZU, Postojna, Slovenia (2008 – present) Professor Emeritus of Environmental Science at American University, Washington, D.C. (2016 – present) 3. Major Administrative Experience: Associate Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, Northwestern University (1976-1978) Chair, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Northwestern University (1981-1984) Chair, Department of Biology, American University (1987 - 1995) Coordinator, Environmental Studies Program, American
    [Show full text]
  • Article Full Text
    Vol. 104 (1) The Ohio Journal of Science A-5. Index to Sessions in DeBartolo Hall Ohio Branch American Society for Microbiology Poster Session-Multidisciplines 09:00 AM – 10:00 AM p. 6 The Ohio Branch Poster Session-Multidisciplines of The American Society for Microbiology 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM p. 13 (OBASM) will meet jointly with The Ohio Academy of Science. Poster Session-Multidisciplines Please see the following schedule. or contact: 02:00 PM – 03:00 PM p. 20 Dr. Chet Cooper at Youngstown State University. Phone 330-941-1361; fax 330-941-1483 or by email [email protected] Pre-College Poster Session 03:00 PM – 04:30 PM p. 27 Saturday, April 17th 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM Registration Physical Sciences & Education p. 31 8:30 AM Welcome - Auditorium, DeBartolo Hall 09:00 AM Saturday, April 17, 2004 DeBartolo Hall Room 347 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Dr. Paul Szalay-Presiding My virus is nastier than your virus!! Strain dependent differences in the molecular properties of the ICP34.5 protein of HSV-1 that determine the virulence of HSV-1 Zoology p. 32 Dr. Ken Rosenthal, Northeastern Ohio 09:00 AM Saturday, April 17, 2004 Universities College of Medicine DeBartolo Hall Room 358 Dr. Courtenay Willis-Presiding 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM General Microbiology Lecture Phycology & Aquatic Ecology p. 33 Cepacia means more than onions 09:00 AM Saturday, April 17, 2004 Dr. Christine Weingart DeBartolo Hall Room 356 Denison University Dr. Robert Heath-Presiding 11:15 AM – 12:15 AM Roundtable: Intellectual Property Basic & Applied Microbiology p.
    [Show full text]
  • The Evolution of Social Parasitism in Formica Ants Revealed by a Global Phylogeny
    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.12.17.423324; this version posted February 15, 2021. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license. The evolution of social parasitism in Formica ants revealed by a global phylogeny Marek L. Borowiec*a,b,c, Stefan P. Coverd, and Christian Rabeling†a aSchool of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, U.S.A. bInstitute of Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies (IBEST), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83843, U.S.A. cDepartment of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, U.S.A. dMuseum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A. Abstract Studying the behavioral and life history transitions from a cooperative, eusocial life history to exploita­ tive social parasitism allows for deciphering the conditions under which changes in behavior and social organization lead to diversification. The Holarctic ant genus Formica is ideally suited for studying the evo­ lution of social parasitism because half of its 176 species are confirmed or suspected social parasites, which includes all three major classes of social parasitism known in ants. However, the life­history transitions associated with the evolution of social parasitism in this genus are largely unexplored. To test compet­ ing hypotheses regarding the origins and evolution of social parasitism, we reconstructed the first global phylogeny of Formica ants and representative formicine outgroups.
    [Show full text]
  • Soil Temperature and Arthropod Abundance Are Lower Near Ant Mounds
    Tillers 2002, 3, 15-19 Soil temperature and arthropod abundance are lower near ant mounds LARA JANSON, LIZ MALLOTT, and LOUIS MCGINTY Biology Department, Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA 50112, USA Abstract Because so little of tallgrass prairie remains in North America, conservationists must monitor the general health of remaining prairie sites to ensure their survival. Disturbances are crucial to boosting overall diversity for prairies, since they create patches that allow less-dominant species to gain a foothold in the environment. In order to better understand the importance of disturbance in a savanna ecosystem, we studied the effects of a common disturbance, ant mounds, on soil conditions and on underground arthropod abundance and diversity in the savanna area of Conard Environmental Research Area (CERA), a reconstructed prairie in central Iowa. In fall 2002, we gathered soil and arthropod samples from 16 Formica montanis and Formica exsectoides ant mounds and 16 control sites, analyzed soil conditions, and identified soil arthropods. We predicted ant mounds would boost both arthropod abundance and diversity by creating soil conditions favorable to arthropods, including higher percentages of moisture and organic matter, higher temperatures, and lower levels of pH, as shown by earlier studies. However, we found that ant mounds did not significantly alter soil conditions, aside from creating lower temperatures, nor did they boost arthropod abundance or diversity. Future studies could isolate one soil factor to examine its effects on arthropods in more detail. Results from this type of study could help ecologists better understand how to successfully incorporate ant mounds into prairie ecosystems. Introduction mounds change soil characteristics such that ant nests sustain 30-fold higher abundances of Existing studies about disturbances show that ant microarthropods than nearby control soils.
    [Show full text]
  • Musculature, Homology, and Functional Morphology (Hymenoptera, Aculeata, Formicidae)
    JHR 30: 29–49 (2013) Male ant genitalia: musculature, homology, function 29 doi: 10.3897/JHR.30.3535 RESEARCH articLE www.pensoft.net/journals/jhr The male genitalia of ants: musculature, homology, and functional morphology (Hymenoptera, Aculeata, Formicidae) Brendon E. Boudinot1 1 The Evergreen State College, 2700 Evergreen Parkway NW, Olympia, WA 98505, USA Corresponding author: Brendon E. Boudinot ([email protected]) Academic editor: Jack Neff | Received 17 July 2012 | Accepted 12 December 2012 | Published 30 January 2013 Citation: Boudinot BE (2013) The male genitalia of ants: musculature, homology, and functional morphology (Hymenoptera, Aculeata, Formicidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 30: 29–49. doi: 10.3897/JHR.30.3535 Abstract The genitalia of male ants are interpreted in the context of the broader Hymenoptera. For the first time muscle homologies are established for twenty six species of ants in nine subfamilies: Amblyoponinae, Cerapachyinae, Dolichoderinae, Ecitoninae, Ectatomminae, Formicinae, Leptanilloidinae, Myrmicinae and Ponerinae. Fifteen muscles in total are found in the external genitalia of male ants and all are ho- mologous with the musculature of basal Hymenoptera (Schulmeister 2001). Secondary fusion, reduc- tion or losses of muscles have occurred in different lineages. From generalized to derived, the functional morphology and qualitative mechanics of three taxa, Formica obscuripes Forel 1886, Messor andrei Mayr (1886) and Labidus coecus Latreille (1802) are described and compared. Special reference is made to the Ecitoninae, where the work of Birket-Smith (1981) is reinterpreted and volsellar homology is clarified. The true digitus of Labidus is revealed to be a small sclerite at the base of the distal volsellar element which is re-identified as the cuspis.
    [Show full text]
  • In the Central Sand Hills of Alberta, and a Key to the Ants of Alberta By
    University of Alberta Community ecology of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the central sand hills of Alberta, and a key to the ants of Alberta by James Richard Nekolai Glasier A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Conservation Biology Department of Renewable Resources ©James Glasier Fall 2012 Edmonton, Alberta Permission is hereby granted to the University of Alberta Libraries to reproduce single copies of this thesis and to lend or sell such copies for private, scholarly or scientific research purposes only. Where the thesis is converted to, or otherwise made available in digital form, the University of Alberta will advise potential users of the thesis of these terms. The author reserves all other publication and other rights in association with the copyright in the thesis and, except as herein before provided, neither the thesis nor any substantial portion thereof may be printed or otherwise reproduced in any material form whatsoever without the author's prior written permission. Abstract In this study I examined ant biodiversity in Alberta. Over a two-year period, 41,791 ants were captured in pitfall traps on five sand hills in central Alberta and one adjacent aspen parkland community. Using additional collections, I produced a key to the 92 species of ants known from Alberta, Canada. The central Alberta sand hills had the highest recorded species richness (S = 35) reported in western Canada with local ant species richness inversely related to canopy cover. Forest fires occurred in the sand hills during both years of sampling, allowing me to examine the response of ants to fire.
    [Show full text]
  • Red Wood Ants in North America
    Ann. Zool. Fennici 42: 235–242 ISSN 0003-455X Helsinki 28 June 2005 © Finnish Zoological and Botanical Publishing Board 2005 Red wood ants in North America Martin F. Jurgensen1,*, Andrew J. Storer1,** & Anita C. Risch2 1) School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton MI, 49931, USA (e-mails: *[email protected], **[email protected]) 2) Department of Biology, Biological Research Laboratories, Syracuse University, 130 College Place, Syracuse NY, 13244, USA (e-mail: [email protected]) Received 9 Nov. 2004, revised version received 20 Apr. 2005, accepted 4 May 2005 Jurgensen, M. F., Storer, A. J. & Risch, A. C. 2005: Red wood ants in North America. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 42: 235–242. Red wood ants of the Formica rufa group are present in many conifer and mixed- conifer forests of northern Europe and Asia. These six species are part of the For- mica s. str. subgenus, and build large above-ground organic mounds. In contrast, the taxonomic usage of the F. rufa group in North America seems to have a much broader meaning than in Europe and Asia. Twenty-four species and subspecies are placed in the North American F. rufa group, but only a few build large mounds. Our survey of the literature indicates that very little is known on the abundance and distribution of North American red wood ants, under what forest conditions they are found, and what role they may have in forest ecosystems. Environmental conditions (temperature, moisture), disturbances (fire, human), predation, and competition with other ant spe- cies are all possible factors that may explain why red wood ants predominate in many Eurasian but not in North American forests.
    [Show full text]