Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 75-91 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| Journal | Entomologia generalis |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - 16 Sept 1999 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Abstract
Increasingly, stochastic catastrophes are considered to be essential for the survival of certain species and the development of ecosystems. Floodplains of pristine, braided rivers in the Alps (Central Europe) are examples for ecosystems shaped by stochastic floods and well suitable as a model to study the effects of 'unpredictable' changes of the environment to species. The ant communities of 2 distinct ecological groups in 3 adjacent stretches of the Upper Isar (Germany) was analysed. Most ant species are not adapted to occasional flooding and so were absent from sites frequently inundated. At least 9 species were able to survive floods. Only Formica selysi Bondroit 1918 regularly colonises relatively young, unvegetated gravel islands and bars. There, this species attained densities higher than any other ant species in the study area (up to 30 nests per 100 m2). The response of Formica selysi to flooding was tested in the field and in lab experiments. On open gravel bars 72% of the colonies survived floods in their nests. Swimming rafts were formed when the nest entrance was mechanically impacted or if animals were not able to find shelter in the nest. Swimming rafts consisted of several dozen workers, a queen and brood. Field observations demonstrated, that rafts can successfully reach the river banks again. Peak floods are necessary to provide suitable habitats for some ant species of pristine floodplains which do not survive in more densely vegetated habitats.
Keywords
- Alps, Formica selysi Bondroit 1918, Habitat analysis, Inundation, Stochastic flooding
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Insect Science
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In: Entomologia generalis, Vol. 24, No. 2, 16.09.1999, p. 75-91.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Life strategies of ants in unpredictable floodplain habitats of alpine rivers (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
AU - Lude, Armin
AU - Reich, Michael
AU - Plachter, Harald
PY - 1999/9/16
Y1 - 1999/9/16
N2 - Increasingly, stochastic catastrophes are considered to be essential for the survival of certain species and the development of ecosystems. Floodplains of pristine, braided rivers in the Alps (Central Europe) are examples for ecosystems shaped by stochastic floods and well suitable as a model to study the effects of 'unpredictable' changes of the environment to species. The ant communities of 2 distinct ecological groups in 3 adjacent stretches of the Upper Isar (Germany) was analysed. Most ant species are not adapted to occasional flooding and so were absent from sites frequently inundated. At least 9 species were able to survive floods. Only Formica selysi Bondroit 1918 regularly colonises relatively young, unvegetated gravel islands and bars. There, this species attained densities higher than any other ant species in the study area (up to 30 nests per 100 m2). The response of Formica selysi to flooding was tested in the field and in lab experiments. On open gravel bars 72% of the colonies survived floods in their nests. Swimming rafts were formed when the nest entrance was mechanically impacted or if animals were not able to find shelter in the nest. Swimming rafts consisted of several dozen workers, a queen and brood. Field observations demonstrated, that rafts can successfully reach the river banks again. Peak floods are necessary to provide suitable habitats for some ant species of pristine floodplains which do not survive in more densely vegetated habitats.
AB - Increasingly, stochastic catastrophes are considered to be essential for the survival of certain species and the development of ecosystems. Floodplains of pristine, braided rivers in the Alps (Central Europe) are examples for ecosystems shaped by stochastic floods and well suitable as a model to study the effects of 'unpredictable' changes of the environment to species. The ant communities of 2 distinct ecological groups in 3 adjacent stretches of the Upper Isar (Germany) was analysed. Most ant species are not adapted to occasional flooding and so were absent from sites frequently inundated. At least 9 species were able to survive floods. Only Formica selysi Bondroit 1918 regularly colonises relatively young, unvegetated gravel islands and bars. There, this species attained densities higher than any other ant species in the study area (up to 30 nests per 100 m2). The response of Formica selysi to flooding was tested in the field and in lab experiments. On open gravel bars 72% of the colonies survived floods in their nests. Swimming rafts were formed when the nest entrance was mechanically impacted or if animals were not able to find shelter in the nest. Swimming rafts consisted of several dozen workers, a queen and brood. Field observations demonstrated, that rafts can successfully reach the river banks again. Peak floods are necessary to provide suitable habitats for some ant species of pristine floodplains which do not survive in more densely vegetated habitats.
KW - Alps
KW - Formica selysi Bondroit 1918
KW - Habitat analysis
KW - Inundation
KW - Stochastic flooding
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0002246973&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1127/entom.gen/24/1999/75
DO - 10.1127/entom.gen/24/1999/75
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0002246973
VL - 24
SP - 75
EP - 91
JO - Entomologia generalis
JF - Entomologia generalis
SN - 0171-8177
IS - 2
ER -