The search result changed since you submitted your search request. Documents might be displayed in a different sort order.
  • search hit 5 of 59
Back to Result List

Red wood ants (Formica rufa group) disperse bryophyte and lichen fragments on a local scale

  • Gametophyte and thallus fragments, respectively, may be an important or even the only mode of reproduction for many bryophytes and lichens species. Until now especially birds and mammals have been identifi ed as potential animal dispersal vectors of fragments. This study investigates the dispersal of bryophyte and lichen fragments by red wood ants which build large nest mounds from plant material and are abundant in European coniferous forests. We sampled nest material from 25 nest mounds in fi ve different pine and spruce forest types in Germany and found numerous fragments of 20 bryophyte and ten lichen species. As they occurred on almost all studied mounds and often in large numbers we conclude that collecting cryptogam fragments as nest material is a characteristic feature for the Formica rufa group in coniferous forests. Species number and composition of fragments on mounds coincided with the epigeic vegetation around ant nests to a large extent: Almost all collected species were present in the vegetation, and dominant fragmentGametophyte and thallus fragments, respectively, may be an important or even the only mode of reproduction for many bryophytes and lichens species. Until now especially birds and mammals have been identifi ed as potential animal dispersal vectors of fragments. This study investigates the dispersal of bryophyte and lichen fragments by red wood ants which build large nest mounds from plant material and are abundant in European coniferous forests. We sampled nest material from 25 nest mounds in fi ve different pine and spruce forest types in Germany and found numerous fragments of 20 bryophyte and ten lichen species. As they occurred on almost all studied mounds and often in large numbers we conclude that collecting cryptogam fragments as nest material is a characteristic feature for the Formica rufa group in coniferous forests. Species number and composition of fragments on mounds coincided with the epigeic vegetation around ant nests to a large extent: Almost all collected species were present in the vegetation, and dominant fragment species occurred in large amounts in the vicinity of ant nests. Lichen fragments were larger than bryophyte fragments. Certain life forms (weft-forming bryophytes, reindeer lichens) were accumulated on mounds, while others (tall turfs, cup-type Cladonia species) were discriminated, refl ecting fragmentation features of species. Collected fragments may regenerate to mature plants if nest mounds are abandoned, and especially if they are lost during transport over several metres. We conclude that dispersal of fragments by red wood ants contributes to maintain epigeic bryophyte and lichen diversity of coniferous forests by supporting colonisation after disturbances, which occur on different spatial and temporal scales.show moreshow less

Export metadata

Additional Services

Search Google Scholar Statistics
Metadaten
Author details:Thilo HeinkenORCiD, Maria-Sofie Rohner, Michael Hoppert
ISSN:0078-2238
Publication type:Article
Language:English
Year of first publication:2007
Publication year:2007
Release date:2017/03/25
Source:Nova Hedwigia : Beiheft. - ISSN 0078-2238. - 131 (2007), S. 147 - 163
Organizational units:Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Institut für Biochemie und Biologie
Peer review:Nicht referiert
Accept ✔
This website uses technically necessary session cookies. By continuing to use the website, you agree to this. You can find our privacy policy here.