Effect of host species, host nest density and nest size on the occurrence of the shining guest ant Formicoxenus nitidulus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Härkönen, Salla K.; Sorvari, Jouni

doi:10.1007/s10841-017-9986-y

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…The symbiont fauna of red wood ants is known to be influenced by a range of environmental factors. In line with the general predictions of island theory 27 , previous work found a higher diversity and/or abundance of symbionts in larger and more connected nests 28 ;29;30;31 , Nest moisture was also found to impact the richness and abundance of different facets of the symbiont fauna in boreal forests 32 ;33 . Variation in species richness and the abundance of particular groups can offer some insights into how communities change.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

A successional shift enhances stability in ant symbiont communities

Parmentier,

Bonte,

De Laender

2023

Preprint

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Throughout succession, communities undergo structural shifts, which can alter the relative abundances of species and how they interact. It is frequently asserted that these alterations beget stability, i.e. that succession selects for communities better able to resist perturbations. Yet, whether and how alterations of network structure affects stability during succession in complex communities is rarely studied in natural ecosystems. Here, we explore how network attributes influence stability of different successional stages of a natural network: symbiotic arthropod communities forming food webs inside red wood ant nests. We conducted extensive field sampling to compare the composition of the symbiont community across 51 host nests of varying age, representing different succession stages. We recorded abundance of 16 functional groups of symbionts spanning different specialization and trophic levels. Joint species distribution modelling indicated nest age as the driver of the compositional shifts: symbiont communities in old nests contained a greater proportion of specialists and more even species abundance distributions. We then reconstructed community matrices and showed that this enhanced evenness lead to an augmented food web stability of the symbiont communities in older nests. Overall, this study demonstrates that succession begets stability in a natural ecological network by making the community more even.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

A successional shift enhances stability in ant symbiont communities

Parmentier,

Bonte,

De Laender

2023

Preprint

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“…In conclusion, although total and myrmecophile species richness was not greatly affected by clear felling, and only the total species richness was lower in dry nests, the reduced population sizes in dry nests could be a problem in the long run. After all, small populations have a higher risk of becoming extinct (Hanski 1999). Furthermore, some species may be more vulnerable than others either directly due to the changed physical conditions or indirectly through changes in food availability.…”

Section: R a F Tmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of ant-associated beetle communities inhabiting mounds of forest-dwelling ants in forests and forest clearings

Härkönen

Sorvari

2018

Can. J. For. Res.

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Red wood ant (Formica rufa group) nests contain a highly diverse community of invertebrates, which is largely due to their abundant resources and regulated microclimatic conditions. Clear-felling, however, causes nest mounds to lose surface layer moisture, thus disrupting their inner stability. To study the effects of clear-felling on ant-associated beetles (myrmecophile and non-myrmecophile), 41 nests of Formica aquilonia Yarrow, 1955 located on three clear-fells and adjacent mature forest stands were sampled, and the beetle communities between these habitats were compared. We investigated how habitat type, nest surface moisture content, nest volume, and isolation affect the community composition, species richness, and abundance of beetles. Beetle community composition or species richness did not markedly differ between clearings and forests, although total abundance was higher in forests. Also, total species richness and abundance and myrmecophile abundance increased with increasing moisture content. Overall, nests with similar moisture content and volume had similar species compositions. Nest volume was negatively correlated with myrmecophile species richness. Nest isolation was not related to species richness or abundance. The lower abundances in clearings could be problematic in the long term, as small populations are more likely to become extinct. To ensure the survival of ants and their associates, small-scale clearings should be preferred.

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“…Several regions grant some type of protection (Appendix S2 ) either by generally protecting ant nests, mentioning the Fomica rufa group, or specifying the names of some species (sometimes with misspelled names). Interestingly, one regional law currently grants protection to other ant species, including Formicoxenus nitidulus , an obligate myrmecophilous ant listed as vulnerable at a global level (IUCN Red List) that cohabits nests of various RWA species (Härkönen & Sorvari, 2017 ). Similarly, in the United Kingdom, F. nitidulus is a BAP priority species for conservation, but its wood ant hosts are not protected.…”

Section: Status Quo Of Rwa Protection In Europementioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges and a call to action for protecting European red wood ants

Balzani

Dekoninck

Feldhaar

et al. 2022

Conservation Biology

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Effect of host species, host nest density and nest size on the occurrence of the shining guest ant Formicoxenus nitidulus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Cited by 7 publications

References 40 publications

A successional shift enhances stability in ant symbiont communities

A successional shift enhances stability in ant symbiont communities

Comparison of ant-associated beetle communities inhabiting mounds of forest-dwelling ants in forests and forest clearings

Challenges and a call to action for protecting European red wood ants

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