scholarly journals Orman Karıncalarının (Formica rufa grup) Mikroeklembacaklı Komünite Yapısına Etkisi

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meriç ÇAKIR
Keyword(s):  
Formica Rufa

scholarly journals A motion compensation treadmill for untethered wood ants (Formica rufa): evidence for transfer of orientation memories from free-walking training

2020 ◽  
Vol 223 (24) ◽  
pp. jeb228601
Author(s):  
Roman Goulard ◽  
Cornelia Buehlmann ◽  
Jeremy E. Niven ◽  
Paul Graham ◽  
Barbara Webb
Keyword(s):  
Motion Compensation ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Formica Rufa ◽  
Insect Navigation ◽  
Wood Ants ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Controlled Environments ◽  
Freely Moving ◽  
Time Frames ◽  
Natural Scale

ABSTRACTThe natural scale of insect navigation during foraging makes it challenging to study under controlled conditions. Virtual reality and trackball setups have offered experimental control over visual environments while studying tethered insects, but potential limitations and confounds introduced by tethering motivates the development of alternative untethered solutions. In this paper, we validate the use of a motion compensator (or ‘treadmill’) to study visually driven behaviour of freely moving wood ants (Formica rufa). We show how this setup allows naturalistic walking behaviour and preserves foraging motivation over long time frames. Furthermore, we show that ants are able to transfer associative and navigational memories from classical maze and arena contexts to our treadmill. Thus, we demonstrate the possibility to study navigational behaviour over ecologically relevant durations (and virtual distances) in precisely controlled environments, bridging the gap between natural and highly controlled laboratory experiments.

Zoogeomorphosite: A concept for, and example of, linking geoheritage and biodiversity heritage

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
François Bétard
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Forest ◽  
Slope Aspect ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
Termite Mounds ◽  
Morphometric Measurements ◽  
Small Surface ◽  
Formica Rufa ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
First Results ◽  
Ant Mounds

<p>Zoogeomorphosites can be defined as geomorphological sites of special interest for animal biodiversity and conservation. They appear as ideal places for linking geoheritage and biodiversity heritage because of the reciprocal effects and interactions between landforms and animals. On one hand, geomorphodiversity exerts an influence on animal biodiversity at alpha, beta and gamma levels, and many landforms constitute valuable habitats for a wide range of animal species. On the other hand, animals can have direct and indirect geomorphic effects by creating specific landforms (e.g., mounds) and by influencing geomorphic processes (e.g, runoff), respectively.</p><p>The aim of this presentation is (1) to illustrate a worldwide range of sites fitting the conceptual definition of a zoogeomorphosite, with a proposed typology, and (2) to present an example of zoogeomorphological survey conducted on a site in Northwest France (Bois-des-Jarries, Vendée), where geoheritage meets with biodiversity heritage. The selected study site is a granitic geomorphosite composed of two hills with small tors and boulders outcropping at 230-260 m a.s.l., and franging a large fluvial paleo-valley of Ypresian age. The land cover is a mosaic of mixed forests and dry heathlands recognized for their high ecological interest, with many valuable species of vascular plants, birds and invertebrates. A major zoogeomorphic interest of the site is that it hosts an important population of mound-building red wood ants (<em>Formica rufa</em>), a regionally rare and vulnerable species responsible for an impressive collection of biogenic microlandforms (ant mounds) on a small surface (62 ha). A zoogeomorphogical survey carried out in summer 2020 on these ant mounds involved a two-stage methodology: (1) linear surveys along forest paths, in order to calculate mound densities and to proceed with a general inventory of ant mounds; (2) morphometric measurements of mounds using strip transects in 13 representative habitat types, in order to calculate mound volumes and to evaluate their evolution on a 5-years period.</p><p>119 mounds of <em>Formica rufa</em> have been inventoried in summer 2020 along the forest paths, indicating a density of 2-4 mounds ha<sup>–1</sup>. First results of the morphometric measurements indicate that the highest biovolumes are found in pine or mixed forest habitats, and that the geomorphology of the granitic hills (slope, aspect, height above drainage, etc.) is of major influence on their distribution and shape. In turn, ant mounds create environmental heterogeneity, or patch-scale geodiversity, highly favourable to biodiversity, notably because they offer microhabitats for various myrmecophilous insects. Finally, ant mounds can be viewed as a remarkable example of biogeomorphological heritage, hybrid and evolutionary in nature, but highly sensitive to environmental and human-induced changes (e.g., forest clear cuts, tourism pressure). Because ant mounds are an integral component of natural heritage and a key provider of ecosystem services, their inventory and protection as zoogeomorphosites – just like that of termite mounds – are of prime relevance in the wider scope of integrating geodiversity and biodiversity in nature conservation policies and strategies.</p>

scholarly journals Fight tactics in wood ants: individuals in smaller groups fight harder but die faster

2011 ◽  
Vol 278 (1722) ◽  
pp. 3243-3250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim P. Batchelor ◽  
Mark Briffa
Keyword(s):  
Group Size ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Resource Holding Potential ◽  
Attrition Rates ◽  
Formica Rufa ◽  
Wood Ants ◽  
Social Animals ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
The Individual

When social animals engage in inter-group contests, the outcome is determined by group sizes and individual masses, which together determine group resource-holding potential (‘group RHP’). Individuals that perceive themselves as being in a group with high RHP may receive a motivational increase and increase their aggression levels. Alternatively, individuals in lower RHP groups may increase their aggression levels in an attempt to overcome the RHP deficit. We investigate how ‘group RHP’ influences agonistic tactics in red wood ants Formica rufa . Larger groups had higher total agonistic indices, but per capita agonistic indices were highest in the smallest groups, indicating that individuals in smaller groups fought harder. Agonistic indices were influenced by relative mean mass, focal group size, opponent group size and opponent group agonistic index. Focal group attrition rates decreased as focal group relative agonistic indices increased and there was a strong negative influence of relative mean mass. The highest focal attrition rates were received when opponent groups were numerically large and composed of large individuals. Thus, fight tactics in F. rufa seem to vary with both aspects of group RHP, group size and the individual attributes of group members, indicating that information on these are available to fighting ants.

The effect of stand age on CO2 efflux from wood ant (Formica rufa group) mounds in boreal forests

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 21-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mizue Ohashi ◽  
Timo Domisch ◽  
Leena Finér ◽  
Martin F. Jurgensen ◽  
Liselotte Sundström ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Co2 Efflux ◽  
Formica Rufa ◽  
Formica Rufa Group
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