Regional Variation in the Seasonal Activity of the Imported Fire Ant,
Solenopsis saevissima richteri1

Markin, George P.; O'Neal, J.; Dillier, Justin H.; Collins, H. L.

doi:10.1093/ee/3.3.446

Cited by 26 publications

(20 citation statements)

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“…Effects ofphysicalfactors on ant activiry. -This study reinforces earlier conclusions (e. g., Sanders, 1972;, Markin et al, 1974;Lynch et al, 1980;Lynch, 1981) that temperature is the key determinant of seasonal activity by ants in moist temperate-zone habitats. As was also found in an earlier study conducted at our Maryland study site (Lynch et al , 1980), a given temperature increment had a greater effect on ant activity early in the activity season than later on.…”

Section: Distinctiveness Of the Soil And Litter Components Tif The Ansupporting

confidence: 91%

Spatial and Temporal Variation in the Abundance and Diversity of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Soil and Litter Layers of a Maryland Forest

Lynch¹,

Johnson²,

Balinsky³

1988

American Midland Naturalist

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Spatial and seasonal variation in the abundance and community composition of terrestrial ants was studied in a mature deciduous forest located on the inner coastal plain of Maryland. Monthly samples of soil and litter during the MarchOctober activity season yielded a total of 22 ant species, but the 10 most abundant species. accounted for more than 95 % of the individuals collected. The single most abundant ant species in the soil layer (Brachymyrmex depilis) was rare in the litter layer, but there were few other major qualitative differences in the species inhabiting the two vertical str~ta. However, the density of ants per unit of surface area was more than three times as high in the upper 10 cm of soil as in the overlying litter. Marked seasonal differences in ant abundance and community composition were significantly correlated with surface temperature, but were largely independent of substrate moisture content and standing crop of leaf litter. The observed patchiness in the horizontal distribution of ants was unrelated to position along the modest local topographic gradient. The high values measured for ant density (mean monthly density = 816 m-2 ) and biomass (mean monthly dry mass = 144 mg m-2 ) strengthen previous suggestions that ants constitute a significant component of the macroarthropod fauna in temperate forest ecosystems. '

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Section: Distinctiveness Of the Soil And Litter Components Tif The Ansupporting

confidence: 91%

Spatial and Temporal Variation in the Abundance and Diversity of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Soil and Litter Layers of a Maryland Forest

Lynch¹,

Johnson²,

Balinsky³

1988

American Midland Naturalist

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“…Ant species diversity and richness were greater in sites treated with an insect growth regulator; however, the long-term benefits to arthropod communities from chemical treatments are short-lived. Calixto et al (2007) noted that some native ant species can respond to reductions in Solenopsis invicta densities with a selective use of poison baits, though more data are needed to further investigate this issue and fire ant populations will likely rebound to pre-treatment levels (or higher) in 1-2 y after treatment (Markin et al 1974). Chemical treatments are expensive, and the feasibility of using them at large spatial and temporal scales is low.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fire ants may also prey on beneficial native arthropods, decreasing native arthropod abundance as well as diversity . Soil temperature determines fire ant foraging activity; however, fire ants may forage throughout the year making native arthropods vulnerable during all seasons (Markin et al, 1974;Porter and Tschinkel, 1987). Most foraging occurs on the ground, but ants have been found foraging up to ten meters in the tree canopy potentially impacting canopy arthropods (Kaspari, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Red Imported Fire Ant Impacts on Upland Arthropods in Southern Mississippi

Epperson

Allen

2010

The American Midland Naturalist

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ABSTRACT.-Red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) have negative impacts on a broad array of invertebrate species. We investigated the impacts of fire ants on the upland arthropod community on 20,40 ha study sites in southern Mississippi. Study sites were sampled from 1997-2000 before, during, and after fire ant bait treatments to reduce fire ant populations. Fire ant abundance was assessed with bait transects on all sites, and fire ant population indices were estimated on a subset of study sites. Species richness and diversity of other ant species was also assessed from bait transects. Insect biomass and diversity was determined from light trap samples. Following treatments, fire ant abundance and population indices were significantly reduced, and ant species diversity and richness were greater on treated sites. Arthropod biomass, species diversity and species richness estimated from light trap samples were negatively correlated with fire ant abundance, but there were no observable treatment effects. Solenopsis invicta has the potential to negatively impact native arthropod communities resulting in a potential loss of both species and function.

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“…Several researchers suggest that the activity of ant colonies is correlated with mean temperature (Markin et al 1974;Sanders 1972;but see Whitford 1978), rainfall (Whitford and Ettershank 1975), resource availability (Whitford and Ettershank 1975;Whitford 1978), or a combination of these factors. Jasper Ridge is located in a Mediterranean climate zone and is subject to cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers.…”

Section: Invasion Ratementioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term dynamics of the distribution of the invasive Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, and native ant taxa in northern California

2001

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Invasive species, where successful, can devastate native communities. We studied the dynamics of the invasive Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, for 7 years in Jasper Ridge, a biological preserve in northern California. We monitored the distributions at the hectare scale of native ant taxa and L. humile in the spring and fall from 1993 to 1999. We also studied the invasion dynamics at a finer resolution by searching for ants in 1-m plots. Our results are similar at both scales. The distributions of several native species are not random with regard to L. humile; the distributions of several epigeic species with similar habitat affinities overlap much less frequently than expected with the distribution of L. humile. We found that season had a significant influence on the distributions of L. humile and several native taxa. Over the 7-year period, L. humile has increased its range size in Jasper Ridge largely at the expense of native taxa, but there is seasonal and yearly variation in this rate of increase. Studies of invasions in progress which sample across seasons and years may help to predict the spread and effects of invasive species.

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Regional Variation in the Seasonal Activity of the Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis saevissima richteri1

Cited by 26 publications

References 0 publications

Spatial and Temporal Variation in the Abundance and Diversity of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Soil and Litter Layers of a Maryland Forest

Spatial and Temporal Variation in the Abundance and Diversity of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Soil and Litter Layers of a Maryland Forest

Red Imported Fire Ant Impacts on Upland Arthropods in Southern Mississippi

Long-term dynamics of the distribution of the invasive Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, and native ant taxa in northern California

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