Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Univ., 2003. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Chemical pollutants are one of the main threats against biodiversity and chemicals affecting non-target organisms are of great environmental concern. The herbicide triclopyr is commonly used to keep weeds under control and is believed to be weakly toxic to animals and only lethal in high doses. However, the knowledge of possible sub-lethal behavior effects in low doses is scarce. This study investigates whether the wood ant (family Formica) show behavioral changes when exposed to sub-lethal doses of triclopyr. The main hypotheses tested were; i) ants behaving normally show a preference for dark surfaces (i.e. scototaxis); and ii) triclopyr affect this behavior trait among ants. The hypotheses were tested by exposing ants to diets containing 1, 10 and 100 mg/L triclopyr for 24 hours (acute) and 7 days (chronic). To what extent ants preferred the white surface (proportion of frames with the ant visible), their activity (proportion of speed above 1 mm/s) their exploration (proportion area covered) and their average velocities was measured using a newly developed tracking software (ToxTrac). The results clearly show that ants have preference for dark surfaces and thus, that the first hypothesis is valid. However, the second hypothesis appear invalid as the different exposures to triclopyr did not affect the examined behaviors. Based on the results, triclopyr appear to not affect non-target organism such as ants, although possible behavioral effects in other organisms and other behavioral traits cannot be excluded.

The biodiversity of Durban (eThekwini municipality) in KwaZulu Natal is primarily threatened by urbanization although other factors such as climate change and the spread of invasive species also pose a significant threat. Knowledge of what species exist within the city is important for biodiversity surveillance, detecting invasive taxa and uncovering cryptic species. Conducting a comprehensive biodiversity inventory is a daunting task, especially for hyperdiverse groups such as terrestrial arthropods, where closely related species can often only be separated by subtle morphological characters. This study investigated whether the barcoding marker, Cytochrome Oxidase C Subunit 1 (COI) can be used to efficiently and accurately delineate species of ants (family Formicidae) in comparison to traditional taxonomic approaches. The feasibility of DNA barcoding for assembling biodiversity inventories for urban areas which could be useful in conservation planning was also evaluated. A total of 619 individuals were sequenced from 23 geographic localities within the eThekwini region and surrounding regions. DNA barcoding revealed 80 provisional species/ “barcode clusters” or monophyletic lineages which could represent distinct species, while morphology revealed 51 different morphospecies. Extrapolation measures of species richness indicated that as many as 153 species of ants could occur in the city. Phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses were performed on co-distributed species belonging to the genera Lepisiota, Camponotus, Pheidole and Pachycondyla to better understand the spatial distribution of genetic variability in the eThekwini region. Nuclear markers 18S rDNA and 28S rDNA were also sequenced and compared for a subsample of individuals from Camponotus and Pachycondyla. There was genetic variation at COI and the nuclear markers for each of the species examined. In order to fully elucidate the population genetic patterns which could be expected in eThekwini and surrounding regions, further sampling across more localities is essential. The use of more nuclear markers could also assist in uncovering these unique patterns of genetic variation in an urban setting. In this study, the utility of COI as a species diagnostic tool in ants was confirmed. The barcoding library constructed showed promise in highlighting reserves that should be preserved and possible cryptic speciation for further investigation. / M. Sc. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2014.

Thesis (doctoral)--Bayerische Julius-Maximilians-Universität zu Würzburg, 1965. / "Aus dem Institut für Angewandte Zoologie der Universität Würzburg." Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 105-122).

In this diploma thesis, the results of Formica foreli Bondroit, 1918, and other ant species in the area of Štěměchy, interspecies relations study are presented. The ant Formica foreli, belonging to subgenus Coptoformica, is a species occured only at stabil and biologicaly valuable sites. Nowadays it occures only in the six locations on the territory of the Czech Republic. Investigated complex of nests, located in Vysočina region, contains 654 nests and at present it is the largest polycalic complex of the nests of this type in the Czech Republic. Collection by ground traps results, confrontation of two worker ants in an artificial arena experiments and competitive interactions on the bait observation, demonstrated, that there is wide spectrum of other ant species in the area, which indicates of good trophy of the site. Further, the results promoted a hypothesis, that thanks to the polycalic nest character, Formica foreli species ocupies the supreme position in hierarchic organization of the whole area.

A recent theory within behavioural ecology suggests that some animal behaviour traits are consistent over time and over different contexts as part of an animals’ “personality”. Animal personality has generally been accepted within vertebrates, but the idea of invertebrates expressing personality has long been meet with scepticism. In this study, I investigate if red wood ants (Formica rufa) show exploratory and bold behaviours that fulfil the personality criteria. Moreover, I test if this species prefers dark surfaces instead of white surfaces (scototaxis). My experiment included tests of 30 ants and two different behaviour trials targeting exploration and boldness that repeated over three different time periods. My results shows that the exploratory behaviours were correlated between trials conducted at different times and therefore, that this behaviour was repeatable. It was also clear that the red wood ant consistently showed large between individuals, indicating difference in personality. However, the studied ants did not show preferences for dark surfaces and the performance in the scototaxis trial did not correlate with any other measurable behaviour. The result of this study suggests that Formica rufa show behaviours that match the animal personality criteria for exploratory behaviour, but my result could not validate that bold behaviours were repeatable across time and context.

This study examines thermoregulation behavior of wood ant genus Formica on elevation gradient. Two years long dataloger records of inner nest and ambient temperature were combined with detailed spring-summer manual measurement of nest temperature in different depths below nest surface. Results show that inner nest temperature was higher than air temperature in all seasons. Temperature of ant nest is highest in the deepest layer, the heat flows from inside out. We can assume that thermal homeostasis of ant nest in spring and summer i.e. in period of ant highest activity is influenced mainly by inner heat sources - microbial activity and ant metabolism. Insulation seems to have direct effect on nest temperature only in early spring; in summer insulation affects nest temperature indirectly, via ant activity. In winter there is pronounced effect of nest volume which corresponds high isolative properties of nest material. Our results indicate that thermoregulatory behavior of wood ants is driven by endogenous factors, namely colony needs in sense of queen oviposition brood development. Both of these require high temperature. Nests at variable altitude did not differ in average seasonal temperature or seasonal temperature fluctuation. Variability of nest temperature was bigger among nests from one...

Ants belonging to the Formica rufa group (wood ants) and their mounds have a large impact on forest ecosystems. This makes them considered keystone species. Several species of wood ants are threatened globally according to the IUCN red list. In this degree project mound densities and mound volumes were evaluated and compared between Norway spruce monocultures and high part Norway spruce woodland key habitats (WKHs) in southern Sweden. There were no significant differences in neihter mound densities nor mound volumes between the two stand types. However, mounds were distributed differently within the stand types and tree density correlated negatively to mound density in both stand types. Wood ant mounds were absent in the interior of monoculture stands, except in light gaps, while several mounds where located in the interior of WKHs. My results suggest that there is not enough light in the interior of monocultures in southern Sweden for wood ants to be able to colonize. Large monoculture areas may lack wood ants if gaps are missing. Therefore, gaps inside monocultures should be made more common in Swedish forests in order to benefit wood ants in production forests. Small clearcuts seem to benefit wood ant dispersal in monocultural stands. Therefore, smaller clearcuts should be preferred over the large areas presently clearcutted due to the negative effects of large clearcuts on wood ants.

<p>The aim of this thesis is to study phylogeny, species-wide phylogeography and genetic diversity in <i>Formica</i> ants across Eurasia in connection with the history of biotic responses to Quaternary environmental changes.</p><p>The mitochondrial DNA phylogeny of Palaearctic <i>Formica</i> species supported the subgeneric grouping based on morphological similarity. The exception was that <i>F. uralensis</i> formed a separate phylogenetic group. The mitochondrial DNA phylogeny of the <i>F. rufa </i>group showed the division into three major phylogenetic groups: one with the species <i>F. polyctena</i> and <i>F. rufa</i>, one with <i>F. aquilonia</i>, <i>F. lugubris</i> and <i>F. paralugubris</i>, and the third one with <i>F. pratensis</i>.</p><p>West-east phylogeographic divisions were found in <i>F. pratensis</i> suggesting post-glacial colonization of western Europe and a wide area from Sweden to the Baikal Lake from separate forest refugia. In contrast, no phylogeographic divisions were detected in either <i>F. lugubris </i>or<i> F. exsecta</i>. Contraction of the distribution range to a single refugial area during the late Pleistocene and the following population expansion could offer a general explanation for the lack of phylogeographic structure across most of Eurasia in these species.</p><p>Sympatrically distributed and ecologically similar species <i>F. uralensis </i>and<i> F. candida</i> showed clear difference in the phylogeographic structure that reflected difference in their vicariant history. Whereas no phylogeographic divisions were detected in <i>F. uralensis</i> across Europe, <i>F. candida</i> showed a well-supported phylogeographic division between the western, the central and the southern group.</p><p>In socially polymorphic <i>F. cinerea</i>, the overall level of intrapopulation microsatellite diversity was relatively high and differentiation among populations was low, indicating recent historical connections. The lack of correspondence between genetic affinities and geographic locations of studied populations did not provide any evidence for differentiating between alternative hypotheses concerning the directions and sources of postglacial colonization of Fennoscandia.</p>

The aim of this thesis is to study phylogeny, species-wide phylogeography and genetic diversity in Formica ants across Eurasia in connection with the history of biotic responses to Quaternary environmental changes. The mitochondrial DNA phylogeny of Palaearctic Formica species supported the subgeneric grouping based on morphological similarity. The exception was that F. uralensis formed a separate phylogenetic group. The mitochondrial DNA phylogeny of the F. rufa group showed the division into three major phylogenetic groups: one with the species F. polyctena and F. rufa, one with F. aquilonia, F. lugubris and F. paralugubris, and the third one with F. pratensis. West-east phylogeographic divisions were found in F. pratensis suggesting post-glacial colonization of western Europe and a wide area from Sweden to the Baikal Lake from separate forest refugia. In contrast, no phylogeographic divisions were detected in either F. lugubris or F. exsecta. Contraction of the distribution range to a single refugial area during the late Pleistocene and the following population expansion could offer a general explanation for the lack of phylogeographic structure across most of Eurasia in these species. Sympatrically distributed and ecologically similar species F. uralensis and F. candida showed clear difference in the phylogeographic structure that reflected difference in their vicariant history. Whereas no phylogeographic divisions were detected in F. uralensis across Europe, F. candida showed a well-supported phylogeographic division between the western, the central and the southern group. In socially polymorphic F. cinerea, the overall level of intrapopulation microsatellite diversity was relatively high and differentiation among populations was low, indicating recent historical connections. The lack of correspondence between genetic affinities and geographic locations of studied populations did not provide any evidence for differentiating between alternative hypotheses concerning the directions and sources of postglacial colonization of Fennoscandia.