Green every kind of ant is different. Multi-species associations of ants in territories with different anthropogenic pressure. What are ants and what is their role in nature

According to scientific data, ants lived as early as 140 million years ago, in the Cretaceous period. They differed from modern insects in appearance and reached 7 cm in length. Now ants live on almost all continents and islands, except for Greenland, Iceland and Antarctica. Behind long years their existence has changed a lot. What kinds of ants exist now? How is their life organized?

Classification

Ants belong to the family of formicides and to the order Hymenoptera. Their relatives are bees, wasps and bumblebees.

The formicide family includes about 7000 species. Most species live in the tropics. However, they can be found in all belts, up to the cold tundra.

Inhabitants of warm countries

Ants differ depending on their habitat. Those who live in the tropics are characterized by aggressive behavior and danger to others:

Bullet ant. The bites of this species are extremely painful. They say that they can be compared with a bullet wound. They are larger than other individuals. The length of such an ant reaches 3 cm.
. These evil insects live in Brazil. They got there quite by accident from Africa. Just by chance, on merchant ships, they ended up in Australia and China. Their bite is like a severe burn.
Bulldog Ants. Their habitat is Australia and Tasmania. During a bite, poison enters the victim's body, which can lead to severe allergies.
Soldiers. Ants of this species roam the territory of South America and Africa. They move in columns, destroying everything in their path that did not have time to hide. An interesting feature of this species is that they do not have a permanent home. Their only shelter is built from their own bodies and that is only for reproduction.
Yellow ants are found predominantly in Arizona. They are the most poisonous. Not a large number of poison can kill an animal weighing about 2 kg.

None of these species is able to live in the middle lane.

Our "compatriots"

Approximately 220 species of ants live on the territory of Russia and the CIS countries. In the northern areas there are fewer of them, in the south, on the contrary, there are more. For example, about 160 species can be found in the Caucasus, but only 24 in the Arkhangelsk region.

What kinds of ants are found in the middle lane?

Myrmika is red. The structure of an ant of this species is different from others. The main difference is the size. Adults have a body 6 mm long. They are colored yellow and red. The main food of such ants is other insects. As a "dessert" they use the secretions of aphids, which have a sweetish aftertaste.
Red ant. Has a medium size. The abdomen is usually dark, and its middle parts are colored red. These ants provide invaluable assistance in the fight against insect pests. This species is on the verge of extinction.
black. It has a relatively small size (about 1 cm). Eats insects and aphids. The queen of this species lives a very long time. The record is 28 years.

In addition to these species, there are several others. This is a brownie, ship or pharaoh ant. Why pharaohs? It was first found in the tombs of Egyptian rulers. The small size of the insect helped him to settle over fairly vast territories.

The abdomen reaches a length of 5 mm. They live mainly in human dwellings. Individuals of this species reproduce very quickly. This ant is considered a pest. It can ruin food and even bring some infections into the house. They usually live in several colonies. They support each other. If one dies, the other quickly restores its numbers.

The basis of the division into castes

Ants are divided into species and according to their functions. There are males, females and workers. They are very different in appearance. Males and females have wings, but hard workers do not. True, in the uterus, after fertilization, the wings fall off.

Another difference lies in the birth process of each species. The queen and worker ants emerge from fertilized eggs, and males from unfertilized ones.

Uterus

Members of this caste produce offspring. There can be several of them in one anthill. Compared to others, they are larger.

Queens mate once in a lifetime. This process is called mating flight. Some species have one partner, while others have dozens. As a result of the relationship, the uterus is left with a supply of sperm that will last her a lifetime.

As soon as fertilization has occurred, the uterus goes to a new family or remains to live in the old one. In the first case, she will have to find a suitable place for a new home and equip a room for herself.

Some species allow the fertilized female to sit in the anthill and prepare for the appearance of offspring, while others send her to work on an equal basis with everyone else.

Interestingly, queens are not always treated with respect. If there are several of them in the anthill, one can be presented to the neighbors. Or kill if it does not produce the required number of offspring.

males

These individuals have only maternal chromosomes. They have wings. Young males often die as a result of a fierce fight for "ladies". Their main function is fertilization. At the end of the process, their life path ends.

Hard workers

Worker ants live up to their name. They are responsible for order in the entire anthill. Depending on the structure, they perform different functions:

Soldiers. They have a large head and a very strong jaw. In peacetime, they work the same way as others.
Babysitters. Usually these are young individuals. They take care of the larvae. They also control the process of their feeding.
Foragers. Looking for food, paving the way to it.

Wintering

How do these insects hibernate? Winter preparation begins in early spring. This is serious and responsible work. All forces and resources go to it.

Various species of these insects overwinter in different time. For example, wintering in a polar species lasts about 9 months. For the remaining months of the year, they need to have time to grow and feed offspring. Those who live in the southern regions winter for only a couple of months.

The pharaoh ant does not hibernate at all. The main habitat of this species is the tropics. There the weather practically does not change throughout the year. That is why in the middle lane these insects can only live in a person's house.

Ants overwinter in the same anthills in which they spend the rest of their time. They descend into rooms located deeper than others. It maintains a more comfortable temperature for living. The entrance for the winter is tightly closed with dry leaves and earth. If the temperature outside rises, the ants may go outside to find food.

Some types of ants hibernate. During the winter, their organs practically do not function. Other species are active all the time. They eat and move little, but continue to take care of the larvae.

In some species, only adult ants go for wintering. For them, preparing for winter is a responsible matter. It consists in collecting seeds, dry plants and fruits. Representatives of the worker castes of these species during wintering try to transform the anthill, making repairs in it. They also make rooms more spacious and maintain the right temperature.

Ants are highly organized insects, even humans have a lot to learn from them. They take care of each other and their offspring. Ants hibernate in their anthill. Preparing for winter is a responsible occupation. At this time, it is necessary not only to collect food supplies, but also to equip the places of residence of the larvae and the uterus. Each ant does its job, but if necessary, it can help its fellows.

Ants are one of the most common insects in the world. According to some estimates, this family includes just over 12,400 species, in which there are more than 4,500 subspecies. But this figure is not final and is constantly growing. Considering how many species of ants exist on the whole earth, many are interested in knowing which of them are found on the territory of Russia.

General introduction to ants

From a biological point of view, ants are Hymenoptera. Their size varies depending on the species. These are social insects that live in colonies. They build their anthills from small particles in the soil or in wood. These families are well organized and have good communication systems to ensure that all their activities are coordinated. Interestingly, some species of ants communicate in their own language, with the help of which they convey complex information. Most of them have a symbiotic relationship with certain insects, plants, fungi and bacteria.

Each member of the colony knows his place and clearly fulfills the role assigned to him.

females. These are the founders of the anthill. Most colonies have only one female. She lays eggs so that her anthill constantly grows and replenishes.
Males. They are needed for the fertilization of females.
Working individuals. Thanks to them, the anthill lives. They build a house, guard it, clean it, supply all the inhabitants with food, take care of the larvae.

It is worth noting that males and females are equipped with wings, while worker ants do not have them. Also, some types of ants have a sting.

Lifestyle

After the female has been fertilized, she loses her wings and goes in search of a place where she will lay the foundation of her anthill of several rooms and lay her eggs there. The male never survives. The uterus feeds the larvae with saliva. The first "batch" of released workers begins to engage in construction and food production. After enough worker ants appear, the female is only engaged in laying eggs, and the colony takes care of the larvae (white helpless worms). After five molts, pupae are formed that stop feeding. They produce adult females and workers. This process lasts the entire growing season. Males are reborn only in spring.

The main diet is plant sap from aphid secretions. But while they are taking care of the larvae, the ants are feeding on other insects.

Ants: species in Russia and their features

It is known that these insects are able to adapt to various conditions and populate any landscape. But each individual species has its own characteristics, and this is due not only to external characteristics. Each of them has its own differences in behavior and lifestyle. Therefore, if you learn more deeply about these insects, even those that live on our territory, they may seem to us no less interesting than those that live only in the tropics. It has already been mentioned how many species of ants are in the world, so it is worth noting that more than 125 of them are in Russia. But in different sources, this figure varies and sometimes reaches 300. The most familiar of them are red forest, meadow, pharaoh, domestic, termites, leaf cutters and others. Consider some types of ants. Photos of some insects will be attached.

red forest

This species for its habitat chooses mixed, coniferous and deciduous forests that are more than 40 years old. Females and workers are distinguished by a red-brown color. Their length is approximately 7-14 mm. The head of this ant has an oblong shape, and the body is dense. Males with reddish or yellowish legs. Their families are single, divided into three castes. One nest can contain from 800 thousand to 1 million individuals. Mating flights begin from May to the end of June. Surprisingly, only working individuals, either males or females, emerge from the eggs. It all depends on the needs of the family.

This type of ant is capable of harm due to the fact that they breed aphids. But at the same time, they also benefit the gardens. These insects destroy many pests that cause damage cultivated plants. At the same time, ants pay special attention to those insects in which mass reproduction begins. It was estimated that in a large anthill these insects can bring up to 21 thousand pest pupae in one day. Therefore, one such anthill is able to protect about a hectare of coniferous forest.

meadow ant

Another species common in Russia is the meadow one. The size of this insect varies between 5-11 mm. In meadow ants, the body is covered with villi, and there is a dark spot on the front of the breast. To build a house, they choose meadows, open edges and clearings. This species also breeds aphids. From the anthill to their "pastures" deepened paths were laid, over which sheds were made. Ants have been walking along these paths for years. In addition to aphid secretions, these ant species feed on dead insects. Very rarely eaten alive.

After winter, as soon as the air warms up to +10 degrees, they crawl out of the anthill. At a temperature of +30, insects do not leave their home. It was described above how many species of ants there are in the world, but of all of them, only these make sorties for breeding twice a season. They fall in May and August.

pharaoh ant

This representative belongs to the smallest ants. Their total length is 2-4 mm. They were first discovered in Egypt in mummy tombs. Then Carl Linnaeus described them and gave them a name. This happened in 1758. The small size helped these babies to spread throughout the earth. In Russia, they were seen in 1889. This is how these types of ants became famous. In the world they are found in almost every corner where there are people.

They usually have a yellow color and a dark abdomen. Males are almost black and always winged. This species is very industrious, and in north side they settle exclusively in human homes. They prefer darkness and moisture, so they are more common in the crevices of floors, walls, and other voids. Since they are always warm, they do not hibernate and their colonies are constantly growing. Usually their number is several thousand. In addition, they do not have to fly out for reproduction, and after fertilization, working individuals bite off the wings of the uterus. In just a year, the family grows by two thousand inhabitants. The nest is divided, and so they spread throughout the area, growing into huge colonies. It is difficult to fight them, because there may be more than one female in one place. It is interesting that bed bugs cannot get along with these inhabitants, since the acids that come from are deadly for these bed pests.

house ant

These representatives are also among the smallest, their size ranges from 1 to 3 mm. The female and male are dark brown, and the working individuals are distinguished by a bright yellow color. These ants are called thieves. Them small size makes them almost invisible, and thanks to this they get along well near the anthills of other species. At the same time, they steal larvae and eggs from them in order to feed themselves. They can be found in as well as with south side European part of the country.

black ant

This species is also one of the most common and often settles in human homes. Their color is usually black, but sometimes dark brown. The entire body of the insect is covered with small villi. Usually anthills are built in the soil, and there is a mound on top. They can also build their dwellings both in wood and under boulders. Sometimes you can meet a larger black ant - in this case, you stumbled upon another representative, he is called a reaper. This species is known for its propensity for huge stocks in the anthill. They can collect about a kilogram of seeds and insects in order to successfully spend the winter. Interestingly, unlike other ants, they feed their larvae with plant foods, and not with insects.

But the types of ants that are found in Russia do not end there. For example, many people know woodworms that run along the branches and collect honeydew on the leaves, and establish their colonies in stumps or under the bark, gnawing through the passages. Also on the territory of the country there are some types of "Amazons" that do not give birth to working individuals, but steal larvae from more peaceful ants. The babies who were born think that the Amazons are their parents and begin to do all the "dirty" work for them.

The most dangerous types of ants: names and descriptions

There are two types of these insects that instill a special fear in humans. But they are not found in Russia. These are the “bullet” and “soldier” ants (also known as the First species are found in the forests stretched from Paraguay to Nicaragua. Its body length is 2.5 centimeters. It arranges its anthill on a tree. Passing under it, you can get caught by this ant, which bravely jumps on a person to protect his colony from the enemy.These insects know how to scream and, before attacking, he makes a call.He is called a "bullet" for a reason.His bite is as piercing and painful as a bullet wound.

Soldier Ant

This is the second dangerous arthropod. It mainly lives in the Amazon, but its families can be found in Asia and Africa. These are large individuals, reaching 1.5 cm. They are also equipped with large mandibles (about 7-8 mm). These ants do not have a permanent nest. They always roam, arranging a halt only for that small period while the queen lays her eggs. At this time, the soldiers are in search of food. When the larvae appear, the ants pick them up and continue on their way. The worst thing is that on their way they destroy all life - insects, small and large animals - all those who did not want to hide or fell asleep. A careless victim is covered by hundreds of thousands of powerful soldiers like a wave. These ants are completely blind, so everyone regards them as a threat to their colony. That is why they are not afraid of the size of animals.

These ants are an unusually close-knit people. If necessary, they can create absolutely any figure from their bodies. For example, they make bridges for the colony to overcome an obstacle, or weather walls. To do this, they firmly cling to each other.

Ant Enemies

As we have seen, different types of ants have their own internal structure that protects them and allows the colony to exist. But these insects also have enemies who love to feast on them. One of the largest ant pests is the bear. He regularly ruins anthills, lowering his paws there. The ants “stick around” them, and the bear licks off the treat. Moles and frogs also like to eat these insects, which will not miss the baby running past. In addition, many people know the animal that is called the "anteater". He has a specially adapted muzzle in order to fit into the dwellings of insects. In addition, they are not afraid of their bites, because the hair is so hard and thick that even small ants are unable to get through it. The meat of this animal smells very strongly of these insects and is black in color. But these are not the only enemies of ants, because they are hunted not only by mammals, but by birds and even fish.

Multi-species associations of ants in the vicinity of the station

Within different climatic zones, ants choose the most optimal ecological conditions for themselves (biotope, temperature, microclimate, etc.). For example, Formica rufa in Karelia lives in light forests, and in the Moscow region - in mixed and spruce forests. One of the main factors influencing the biotopic distribution of ants is the nature of the vegetation. This relationship is so strong that in central Russia, in particular, there is even a change of some ant species by others in the process of changing the age of forest plantations.

The study of ecological confinement in each specific area of the range, the nature of the relationship of different ant species in one territory is undertaken not only with the aim of creating the most complete picture of the biology of the species. Knowledge of the nature of the distribution of ant species, analysis of the structure of their settlement complexes is important practical value, because is the basis for choosing the right paths in the artificial resettlement of these beneficial insects.

Objective: study the nature of the distribution various kinds ants in the vicinity of the hospital.

Tasks

1. Identify the species composition of ants in the vicinity of the station.

2. Identify the most common and rarest ant species.

3. Establish the biotopic confinement and the nature of the relationship of all ant species in the study area.

4. Carry out mapping of nest complexes of background ant species.

5. Find out the boundaries of protected areas (forage areas) of neighboring anthills for background species (species). Check if the feeding paths go beyond the biotope in which the anthill is located. Explain why.

6. Calculate the distribution density of ants of background species in the study area in different biotopes. Determine if it is different. Explain why.

Method of work

1. On different areas route, which is laid in such a way as to cover the maximum variety of biotopes in the vicinity of the station, ants are collected, describing each new biotope in which one or another species is found.

2. The collected ant species are determined (see Appendix 2 in No. 20/2003.)

3. The study of the complex of nests (a group of anthills of the same species of ants, not separated territorially and landscape - by a river, ravine, biotope boundaries, etc.) is carried out using nest mapping ( individual families), columns (groups of ants associated with a certain path of the anthill), colonies (groups of nests that have exchange roads and retained family relations) and federations (unification of colonies into a common system).

It is advisable to carry out the task of mapping in the second half of summer, when the ants have already developed a system of nests and territories. To do this, it is necessary: to apply the contours of meadows, swamps, boundaries of biotopes, streams, clearings, ravines, etc. to the terrain plan; mark and number all anthills in the study area; trace the ends of feeding roads, which, in fact, will determine the approximate boundaries of the territories protected by ants.

The population density of ants is calculated by the formula:

P= S/ F, where S- the sum of the areas of the bases of the domes (in m 2) (see Annexes 4, 5 in No. 22/2003), and F- the area occupied by the complex (in m 2).

4. To establish the distribution density of ants in the study area in various biotopes, dynamic density is the number of individuals visiting a unit of area per unit of time (individuals/dm 2 min). To do this, a wire frame of 10 dm 2 (316 x 316 mm) is placed in the place where the measurement is taken. First, all the ants that are within the frame are counted, and then those that wandered there during the two minutes of observation. The resulting amount is divided by two. Such an experiment is carried out at least three times, the result is averaged. It should be remembered that all calculations must be carried out during the hours of maximum activity of ants, and if they are carried out for several days, then at the same time.

5. To clarify the hierarchical relationships in the territory where ants of different species are found, feeders with sweet syrup are placed and the percentage of aggressive interactions between different types. Describe the options for hostile behavior, try to find a connection between aggressiveness and territoriality, population density, and the duration of the period of daily activity.

At the end of the work and the presentation of the results, a conclusion should be formulated for each of the tasks. Compare the information you have received about the ecology of various ant species with those given in Appendix 3 (see No. 22/2003).

Do not forget to indicate the place and time of the work, a list of used literature. Illustrate work with diagrams, drawings, tables, etc.

Out-of-breeding activity and biotopic confinement of myrmik ants

Several types of ants live in the Moscow region Myrmica. They perform in nature the same biocenotic roles as redheads. forest ants(protection from pests, soil loosening, etc.), but their activities extend not only to forest, but also to meadow ecosystems. Moreover, their biomass can reach huge pore sizes compared to formica ants. Only in the area of the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve, from 650 to 2080 nests of myrmik ants can be found on one hectare. These ants play a special role in forest plantations and on the territory of young (2–3-year-old) wood massifs, where its own faunal complex has not yet been formed, which ensures the full functioning of forest formations. Thus, the study of the ecological features of myrmik ants can be of significant importance in solving various forestry problems.

Variant of phylogenetic relationships of ants-myrmics

Objective: study some aspects of the ecology of myrmik ants.

Tasks

1. Determine the fauna of myrmik ants in the vicinity of the station and identify background species.

2. Establish the biotopic confinement of various species Myrmica.

3. Find out the number of nests of myrmik ants in forest plantations of different ages.

4. For background species, determine the volume of domes and the average weight of their nests.

5. To reveal the confinement of foragers of the species under study to exits from the nest and the average radius of foraging.

6. To characterize the dynamics of the daily activity of the background species of myrmik ants.

Method of work

1. Usually, myrmica ants prefer transitional strips along the boundaries of various forest biotopes (for example, between green moss pine forest and dead spruce forest, since green moss is more convenient for building nests, and a more stable food base is located in the transition zone). Establish the number of myrmik nests in different biotopes on sections of the route of the same length.

2. The volume of the dome of the anthill ( V, see 3) estimate using Annexes 4, 5 (see No. 22/2003), and the dry weight of the nest ( P, d) calculate by the formula:

P= 124,5 + 168,7V/110 + 11,66V/110, where V is the volume of the dome.

3. The average foraging radius of forager myrmics is usually 5 m (rarely 7–8). Follow the forager that has left the nest, determine what distance it will cover in search of food, which exit from the nest it will return to. If necessary, use marks on the abdomen with a bright varnish or white corrective emulsion.

4. To study myrmik activity, mark the nest with string and small pegs into sectors and count the number of worker ants crossing the outer edge of the nest in each sector in one minute. Such observations should be carried out for at least two days at ten minutes per hour. Compare the results obtained by sectors.

At the end of the work, after the presentation of the results, conclusions should be formulated for each of the tasks.

Trophobiosis of ants with aphids

Most commonly, ants feed on various insects, but they can also successfully use other food sources (birch sap, nectar of a number of herbs, seeds, molds that they breed in the nest passages).

The nutritional (trophic) relationship of ants with various homoptera insects (aphids, coccids, psyllids, cicadas, etc.), which excrete excrement rich in glucose and sucrose, called honeydew, is the most interesting and still not fully understood.

These relationships (trophobiosis) are beneficial for both ants and aphids, that is, they are an example of symbiosis. It has long been observed that aphid colonies on which ants collect honeydew are in much better condition than colonies not visited by ants. In addition, the number of aphids noticeably increases near anthills. Ants take care of aphids - they protect against wasps and a number of predatory insects, transfer them to more suitable parts of plants, protect from direct sun rays, building shading for aphids, they carry them away for wintering deep into their nests, etc.

A number of researchers (M.S. Gilyarov et al.) adhere to the hypothesis of a high sugar content in aphid excrement due to their consumption of a large amount of plant sap, not so much for saturation as for protection from drying out. At the same time, a significant amount of water absorbed from the plant evaporates, and dissolved substances (sugar, proteins) that have not been absorbed in the body are excreted with excrement. But there are other points of view, according to which the increased sugar content in honeydew - special device to symbiosis with ants, developed as a result of joint evolution (E.K. Grinfeld's hypothesis), or the ability to get a large amount of protein with juice - sugars remain in excess and are excreted with excrement (Busgen's hypothesis). G.M. Dlussky considers the first two opinions legitimate.

In addition to theoretical interest, trophobiosis also has practical significance for humans. Many aphids are serious plant pests. They cause the main harm by clogging the stomata of the leaves with their excrement and causing the spread of soot fungus - the causative agent of a dangerous disease. Ants, collecting honeydew, prevent this danger. In addition, they can prey on various pests in trees with aphid colonies. AT last years in Western Europe, the collection of honeydew honey is practiced, which in terms of quality (in the case of using aphids of the family Lachnidae living on coniferous trees) is not inferior to the flower. In this regard, the relevance of a comprehensive study of this most interesting ecological phenomenon is increasing.

Objective: to study the features of trophobiosis of ants with aphids in the vicinity of the hospital.

Tasks

1. Find out the species composition of ants and aphids (or other homoptera insects) entering into trophobiotic relationships (Appendices 2, 3 in No. 20, 22/2003). Depending on the group of homopterous insects (aphids, coccid worms, scale insects; psyllid psyllids; cicadas), make an adjustment to the title of the topic.

2. Determine the species composition of plants with aphid colonies visited by ants, the location of the colony (on leaves, tree trunk and grass roots).

3. Describe the behavior of the ant on the aphid colony and the transport of honeydew to the anthill.

4. Find out whether the activity of ants on the aphid colony (i.e., the attendance of the colony by ants) depends on weather conditions, time of day.

Method of work

On routes through different biotopes, anthills are found with paths leading to colonies of homoptera. The biotope in which the colony was found is described (see task 2 to the topic “Out-of-breeding activity of red forest ants in No. 22/2003). The counting of ants on a colony is carried out for equal periods of time (first, all ants located on it, and then all those who visited it for a selected period of time) at different weather conditions and at different times of the day.

The methodology for counting honeydew is set out in task 12 to the topic “Extra-nesting activity of red forest ants”.

Draw conclusions based on the results of the work. Do not forget to indicate the place and timing of the research. Illustrate your conclusions and results with drawings, diagrams, graphs, etc. Indicate at the end of the work a list of the literature you used.

Brian M. social insects. Ecology and behavior. – M.: Mir, 1986.

Dlussky G.M., Bukin A.P. Meet the ants! – M.: Agropromizdat, 1986.

Dlussky G.M. Suborder Stinging Hymenoptera (Aculeata) // Animal Life. T. 3. M.: Enlightenment, 1984, p. 471–484.

Zakharov A.A. Ant, family, colony. – M.: Nauka, 1978.

Zakharov A.A. Ecology of ants // Results of science and technology. T. 7. - M.: VINITI, 1980.

Zakharov A.A., Garbar G.P., Kaplan Yu.M. Operation Ant in 1981–1985 (guidelines). - M .: rotaprint ETPC, TsS VOOP, 1981.

Marikovsky P.I. Ant traveler. – M.: Detgiz, 1957.

Marikovsky P.I. Insects are protected. – M.: Nauka, 1978, p. 25–30, 100–102.

Ants and forest protection. Vol. 3–8, 1976, 1971, 1975, 1979, 1987.

Khalifman I.A. Password crossed antennas. - M., Detgiz, 1958.

Khalifman I.A. Ants. - M .: Young Guard, 1963.

Khalifman I.A. Operation Forest Ants. – M.: Timber industry, 1974.

Shower R. From bee to gorilla. – M.: Mir, 1965.

Shover R. Animal behavior. – M.: Mir, 1972, p. 473–477.

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Introduction

Relevance of the topic: Almost every person in his life, one way or another, came across ants. And this is not surprising - ants live everywhere, with the exception of Antarctica. There are 12,000 species of them and, according to some estimates, they make up to a quarter of the biomass of terrestrial animals! What is the secret of these amazing creatures?

The answer is simple - in advanced social organization. These little insects build anthills internal device comparable to huge castles or cities, working harmoniously, defending themselves from enemies or starting wars themselves, they have a semblance Agriculture and animal husbandry, an advanced communication system, in their world everyone knows their place.

Ants are among those few living creatures that not only adapt themselves to their environment, but also actively rebuild the world in relation to their needs, their tasks. They are similar to humans in many ways.

Ants inhabited our planet long before man appeared. They outlived the dinosaurs and most likely will outlive us. There are more than 100 million years of evolution between us. However, despite the long period of study of ants, we still do not know much about them.

Objective: study of the characteristics of the life of ants and their influence on the forest ecosystem.

Tasks:

get acquainted with the life of ants, the peculiarities of their nutrition and communication;

to monitor the extra-nesting activity of ants;

determine the role of ants in the forest ecosystem.

Object of study: the life of ants.

Subject of study: red wood ant - Formica rufa.

Hypothesis: ants have a positive impact on the forest ecosystem.

Practical significance of the work: We not only study the features of the life activity of red wood ants, their important role in nature is clarified, but also the protective activity of anthills is carried out.

Research methods:

Study of literary sources;

Field research methods (method of laying test sites, geobotanical description, soil study, measuring the parameters of ant nests and the length of trails using a tape measure);

Method of long-term observation;

Experiment method;

Analysis, comparison and generalization of results.

Equipment needed for research: 4 pegs, rope, shovel, wooden board, tape measure, compass, soil thermometer, universal indicators - test strips, correction fluid, Atlas - determinant.

Chapter 1. Theoretical part of the study

1.1. Anthill device

All ants that live in our country live in nests. They build them on the ground. Outside, they can be seen on the heaps of earth. Sometimes ants also settle in rotten wood: stumps, logs.

The anthill is a structure made of twigs, needles of spruce, pine, leaves. It has its own microclimate - the temperature in the anthill is 5 degrees higher than the surrounding air. The ant heap is a structure not only above ground, but also underground. Chambers, galleries, tunnels and corridors pierce the ground under the anthill, now intricately intertwining, now scattering into different sides. The nest has its own food warehouses, trash cans, chambers for the queen ant, and even a nursery for different age groups. All these premises are constantly rebuilt by ants - new chambers are opened, old ones are walled up, new corridors are dug out, and the old ones are dug up and clogged tightly. The nest is busy all the time. The fulfillment by an individual of the tasks of the family is the law of the anthill.

1.2. Ant family

All ants are social insects. They live in families. In the nest of the red forest ant, there are from several tens to one million inhabitants. Ants have three main castes: males, females, and worker individuals, which are asexual females.

There is a division of functions between members of the ant family. Depending on age, size, insects perform different services. Usually, young worker ants are nannies, they take care of the brood and females, mature ants are builders, and older ones are food earners. And those who are completely “aged” are watchmen and observers. They guard the entrances and exits of anthills.

1.3. Features of communication of ants

All ants are oriented in space by terrestrial objects, as well as by the sun. A special system of perception of the environment is created by odorous chemicals - pheromones. They are secreted by the endocrine gland and are perceived by other ants as a smell that plays a major role in the organization of colonies. When one ant excretes this fluid, other ants receive the message through their sense of smell or taste buds and respond to the message. All signals are generated in accordance with the needs of the colony.

Ants communicate with each other by touching antennae located on their heads. So they convey various information in a language that only they understand. Moreover, the data transmission system of ants sometimes surpasses even human in efficiency. verbal communication. Ants instantly solve questions that a person would need many hours to solve.

1.4. Ant nutrition

Almost all ants feed on two sources.

The first is insects. Ants hunt or collect already dead insects (flies, dragonflies, beetles, etc.)

The second source is honeydew - the sweet secretion of aphids. The relationship between ants and aphids is a prime example"cooperation" in the animal world. Aphids supply ants with food, and ants protect them from enemies, transfer them to fresh shoots of plants, and sometimes take them to an anthill for the winter. In addition, ants can eat plant sap, nectar, mushrooms, seeds.

All the food that the ants collect is transferred to the nest and distributed among all family members there. For example, honeydew (ant milk) is distributed as follows: first, honeydew is collected in the ant's goiter. Then, having come to the nest, the ant stands in a special position, opens its jaws and a drop of liquid comes out of its mouth. One or more ants come up to him, who drink this droplet and soon all the food is pumped over. If a lot of food enters the nest, it is accumulated in the stomachs of a certain group - keepers. These are young and large ants. Thus, all food remains in the family.

1.5. The value of ants in nature

Ants perform many ecological functions. They have a positive effect on soil-forming processes: they mix the soil, improve its chemical and mechanical composition. Laying passages, ants raise soil particles from the lower layers to the upper ones. This improves air access to the roots. Beneficial mixing of the soil occurs constantly, as the ants continuously rebuild their nests. In nests and around them, a large amount of excrement accumulates, fertilizing the soil. It has been established that the trees, the roots of which fall into the zone of influence of the anthill nest, grow rapidly, using the accumulated under the anthill nutrients. Near anthills, a living ground cover is much better developed: the mass of grass, for example, around an anthill is 5-8 times higher. Vegetation develops here, demanding on soil fertility.

Ants that settle in wood and include old stumps in their nests participate in the destruction of dead wood, thereby accelerating the process of its decomposition. In addition, insects collect woody and grassy particles, twigs, needles, and scales into the anthill, where they decompose faster than on the soil surface.

The anthill itself is a hostel not only for ants, but also for hundreds of different small animals - spiders, ticks, centipedes, beetles, crickets and caterpillars. They are attracted here by the rapid decomposition of substances, high friability of the soil, stable temperature, suitable humidity.

The importance of ants in nature is also increasing due to the fact that they are one of the main links in the trophic chains of ecosystems. They serve as food for badgers, foxes, bears, songbirds. Without ants, the normal development of black grouse and hazel grouse is impossible.

It is impossible not to note one feature of ants. They are able to breed aphids that produce a large amount of excrement. The ant family uses them to feed adults, protects aphids from enemies. But the harm caused by ants is insignificant compared to the benefits they bring.

Ants are active predators. They quickly switch to new plentiful food sources and thus can suppress pest outbreaks. The inhabitants of an average anthill are capable of destroying up to twenty thousand pests per day. In one season of ant activity, the forest is cleared of five million pests.

Chapter 2. Practical part

The research was carried out in the vicinity of the village of Suda in the Cherepovets region (40 km from Cherepovets). The time of the research: June - August 2015.

Research 1. Bookmark trial site, its description

Equipment: 4 pegs, rope, compass, tape measure.

To study the forest community, I chose a forest area located southeast of the village. (Appendix 1, fig. 1.)

A trial site 30x30m 2 in size was laid here:

1. installed peg No. 1;

2. using the compass from peg No. 1, I measured the distance of 30 m to the north and put peg No. 2;

3. I measured a distance of 30 m from peg No. 2 along the compass to the east and set peg No. 3;

5. pulled a rope between the pegs.

Description of the trial site:

The relief of the site is flat, the climate is temperate continental with moderately warm summers and moderately cold winters. The soil is sod-podzolic, sandy loam. ground water lie at medium depth. The species composition of the plant world is diverse. In section I, the tier belongs mainly to conifers, as well as deciduous trees, II tier is represented by shrubs and small trees, III tier - herbs.

In the study area, 7 anthills were found: 4 large, 2 medium and 1 small. (Appendix 1, table 1)

Anthills built in a lighted place have a spherical shape, and in the shade they are highly conical. The composition of the domes of the studied anthills is mainly represented by small twigs, stems and roots of herbs, grains of sand, needles, pieces of wood, and dry leaves. (Appendix 1, Fig.2-8)

The height of the anthills ranges from 0.35 m to 1.20 m, and the area of the bases of the domes is from 0.38 m 2 to 2.83 m 2. The total number of trails is 24. (Appendix 1, table 2)

Study 2. Study of non-nesting life of ants

Equipment: universal indicators - test - strips, correction fluid, tape measure, wooden board, Atlas - determinant.

To conduct experiments on the extra-nesting activity of ants, I chose the largest anthill No. 3.

Slightly moving the anthill with a branch, I saw that the disturbed ants took a defensive posture. Holding her palm over the anthill, she felt a burning sensation and the smell of formic acid, and holding a litmus test, she found that it turned red. (Appendix 2, Fig. 1.2)

Conclusion: Ants protect themselves and their homes with formic acid. Formic acid is a poison that ants use to defend themselves and kill their prey.

using pheromones and tendrils

Replanting ants from another anthill.

I planted ants on the path next to the anthill and on the anthill (5 individuals in each case). Alien identification occurred only through direct contact of individuals (mutual palpation with antennae). An ant that directly came into contact with a foreign individual was supported by 2-3 ants located in the immediate vicinity of the conflict zone. The alien individual did not always attack, in most cases, she was allowed to escape. Alien ants planted on the path were attacked and destroyed in 8 cases out of 10.

At 20 cm from the dome of the anthill outside the path, the movement of ants is outwardly more chaotic, which to some extent prevents direct contacts of individuals. Here, 10% of the aliens were identified and destroyed. When replanting individuals from another family on the dome of the anthill, the percentage of those destroyed was 50%. (Appendix 2, Fig. 3.4)

Mustache communication.

Taking carefully one of the worker ants and dipping its belly in the correction fluid (stroke), sent it back to the surface of the anthill. One of his relatives noticed the "stranger" and fussed - he ran to inform everyone about the possible danger, transmitting information with the help of antennae, crossing his antennae with the antennae of a relative: the information was transmitted and several ants ran to the "imaginary enemy". Running up to him, the stranger made several movements with his antennae and was recognized by his relatives. (Appendix 2, Figure 5-7)

Conclusion: The main way ants communicate with each other is through special chemicals - pheromones, but they also communicate using peculiar antennae - antennae.

Experiment No. 3. Hunting instincts moving ants

in space

I put prey (mosquitoes and caterpillars) at a certain distance from the path and from the anthill. (Appendix 2, Fig. 8.9) Prey placed directly on the path or on the anthill was found quickly and immediately by several individuals, and prey placed off the path or a little further from the anthill was found only after a few minutes by 2-3 working ants.

Conclusion: the closer the prey is from the trail or anthill, the faster and more individuals find it. Differences in the timing of detection along the trail are explained by different distances.

Putting the board on the trail in different positions, I tested the reaction of the ants. It was expected that the new substrate, which does not have the smell of an ant trail, will cause an exploratory reaction, and some time will be spent on the restoration of the trail. However, this did not happen. The board, located both along and across the path, the ants passed without delay. The board, placed on its edge, after a short study, the ants bypassed and returned to the path. (Appendix 2, Fig. 10,11)

Conclusion: when using a familiar path, insects use not only the sense of smell, but also the ability to navigate. Woody objects that appear on the trails are not a big surprise (the smell of wood is familiar to them). Ants avoid obstacles with high vertical walls, demonstrating the ability to navigate.

Experiment No. 5. Studying ant trails

When observing the anthill, I studied the paths that branch off from it. 5 trails were found. Using a tape measure, I measured their length. The longest trail is 16.3m, the shortest is 7.9m. I noticed that the end of the trail could be on a tree, a stump, or the ground. The main purpose of the trails is. Recorded the observation data in a table. (Appendix 2, table 2)

Conclusion: most of the paths along which the movement of ant streams is carried out are forage, since ants transport food along them. The maximum traffic on the trails is observed in the daytime. The trails are laid mainly to the trunks of trees with traces of damage by various pests. Consequently, ants preserve the growth of tree crowns in the foci of pests and increase the productivity of the forest.

To study the quantitative accounting of exterminated insects, trail No. 5 was chosen.

On July 25, 2015, I collected ant prey on the trail for 15 minutes three times a day (morning, noon and evening). In the morning, the prey of ants was 23 insects, of which 3 beneficial, 17 harmful and 3 insects could not be identified. During the day, the number of insects increased to 45, of which 32 were harmful, 7 were beneficial. In the evening, ant prey amounted to 28 insects, of which 4 were beneficial, 23 were harmful, and 1 were undetermined. The data was entered into a table. (Appendix 2, table 2)

Conclusion: the peak of the extermination of insects occurs at noon. Most insects exterminated by ants are harmful. Consequently, ants reduce the number of pests.

Study 3. Studying the impact of nest-building activities of ants on the forest ecosystem

Equipment: soil thermometer, shovel, universal indicators - test strips.

To study the soil-forming activity of ants, I compared the soil near and far from the anthill according to the following indicators - mechanical composition, humidity, temperature, acidity. The research data was entered into a table. (Appendix 3, table 1)

According to the table, it can be seen that the soil of the anthill is more structural, of better mechanical composition, more loose, moist, and, consequently, more fertile. The soil temperature near the nest is higher than far away. This is primarily due to the fact that inside the anthill itself the temperature is higher than outside, respectively, and the soil also warms up.

Conclusion: in natural biocenoses, the nest-building activity of ants is of great soil-forming importance.

Conclusion

As a result of the study, I studied the features of the life of ants and their impact on the forest ecosystem and came to the following conclusions:

All ants are social insects. They live in families in nests. Between members of the ant family there is a division of functions depending on age and size. Ants feed on insects, aphids, plant sap, seeds, fungi, and nectar. Insects communicate with the help of special chemicals - pheromones.

Ants protect themselves and their homes with formic acid. Identification of strangers in an anthill occurs with the help of palpation with antennae-antennae. When moving along the paths, insects use not only the sense of smell, but also the ability to navigate. The main part of the ant trails is forage and ends on damaged tree trunks. Most insects exterminated by ants are harmful.

Red forest ants are an integral part of the ecosystem

forests. They have a positive effect on soil-forming processes, participate in the destruction of dead wood, increase forest productivity, being the basis of a biological forest protection complex against insect pests.

Thus, ants have a significant positive impact on the forest ecosystem. My hypothesis was confirmed.

References and Internet sources

1. Baksht F.B. Magnetic anthills // Nature. No. 7, 1990. -p.60-63

2. Grebennikov V.S. Secrets of the world of insects. - Novosibirsk: Novosibirsk book publishing house, 1990 - 272p.

3. Dlussky G. M. Ants of the genus Formica. Moscow: Nauka, 1967 - 236c.

4. Evtushenko S.A. Almost like people. [Electronic resource], - http://www.oracle-today.ru - article on the Internet.

5. The life of ants in an anthill. [Electronic resource], - http://novosteika.ru/stati/nauka/muravei.php - article on the Internet.

6.Zakharov A.A. Ant, family, colony. - M .: Publishing house "Nauka", 1978 - 142c.

7. Club of ants lovers. [Electronic resource], - http:// www.antclub.org/morphology/anatomy

8. Khalifman I. A. Ants. M .: Young Guard, 1967 - 304s

Appendix 1

Trial site bookmark, its description

Fig 1. Map of the location of the study area

Table 1. General site survey data

Photos of anthills found in the study area

Fig.2. Anthill No. 1 Fig.3. Anthill #2

Fig.4. Anthill No. 3 Fig.5. Anthill number 4

Fig.6. Anthill No. 5 Fig.7. Anthill number 6

Fig.8. Anthill number 7

Table 2. General data on discovered anthills

№ anthill	Size of anthills			The number of trails extending from the anthill	The state of the anthill
№ anthill	Base diameter, m	Height, m	Dome base area, m 2	The number of trails extending from the anthill	The state of the anthill
					not violated
					half scattered
					not violated
					not violated
					not violated
					not violated
					not violated

Annex 2

Study of non-nesting life of ants

Experiment No. 1. Protective reaction of ants

Fig.1. Ants' defensive reaction

Fig.2. Formic acid detections

Experiment #2

using pheromones and tendrils

Fig.3. Replanting alien ants in Fig.4. Replanting ants on

the path next to the anthill anthill

Fig.5. Ant labeled Fig.6. tagged ant

corrective fluid planted on an anthill

Fig.7. Tagged detection

Experiment No. 3. The hunting instinct and movement of ants

in space

Fig.8. Production room Fig.9. Ant detection

on an anthill of prey

Experiment #4 Obstacle Detection

Fig.10. Board placed on edge Fig.11. Board placed

across the ant trail

Experiment #5

Table 1. Characteristics of ant trails extending from anthill No. 3

№ trails	Purpose of the trail	Trail length, m	Trail end point
	Transfer of feed and building material		on the tree
	Transfer of feed and building material
	Transfer of feed and building material
	Transfer of feed and building material		on the tree
	Transfer of feed and building material		on the tree

Experiment No. 6. Quantitative accounting of insects exterminated by ants

Table 2. Accounting for insects exterminated by ants

№ mura reed	№ trails	Observation time		Collection duration	The number of insects selected from ants
		Month, number	Hours, minutes		Useful	not defined

Annex 3

Study of the influence of nest-building activity of ants on the forest ecosystem

Table 1. Characteristics of the soil taken away and from the anthill

signs	Indicators near the anthill	Indicators away from the anthill
Structure	structural	less structural
Mechanical composition	light loam (the soil rolls into a sausage with a thin, sharp tip, easily breaks when bent)	medium loam (the soil rolls into a sausage with a thin, sharp tip, breaks when bent)
Degree of trampling down	slightly trampled down (the shovel entered the soil to a depth of 5 cm with a strong blow)	medium trampled down (the shovel with a strong impact entered the soil to a depth of 3.5 cm)
Humidity	moisturized (the soil noticeably cools the hand)	less hydrated (the soil slightly cools the hand)
Temperature
Acidity	(colour changed from yellow to crimson)	subacid (colour changed from yellow to pink)

Determining the characteristics of the soil far away and near the anthill

Fig.1. Taking samples near the anthill

Fig.2. Taking samples away from the anthill

Determination of soil temperature near and far from the anthill

Fig.3. Temperature determination Fig.4. Temperature detection

soil near the anthill soil away from the anthill

"Secondary school No. 3"

Regional competition "Podrost-2014"

Nomination "Ecology of forest animals"

Subject: "Ecology and behavior of forest ants"

Municipal budgetary educational institution

"Secondary school No. 3" 9 "a" class,

registered at the address: 391430, Sasovo, Ryazan region,

microdistrict "Severny", house 5, apt. 28.

Head: Pupochkina Elena Sergeevna,

biology teacher

Municipal budgetary educational institution

"Secondary school No. 3",

registered at the address: 391430, Sasovo, Ryazan region,

st. Proletarskaya d.29

phone: 8-920-996-75-71

Sasovo 2013

Table of contents:

Introduction ................................................ ................................................. ...

Research methodology …………………………………………………….

Research results …………………………………………………..

Findings ………………………………………………………………………

Conclusion ………………………………………………………………….

List of used literature ………………………………………

Applications ……………………………………………………………………

INTRODUCTION

It is unlikely that there will be a person who at least once did not stop near the anthill, fascinated by such a distant and at the same time inexplicably close to us world of these amazing insects. Wherever we go - to the forest, to the meadow, to the swamp - we will meet ants everywhere. The most well-known species is the red forest ants, which build anthills from needles and twigs. 40 live in the European part of the country, and in total there are more than 8,000 species of these insects in the world. And each of these species has its own characteristics. What attracts us to ants, first of all, is that in many of their actions we can find some semblance of our own affairs and problems. Ants are among those few living creatures that not only adapt themselves to their environment, but also actively rebuild the world around them in relation to their needs, their tasks. Ants are eternal builders. Nests of many species are striking in their size, complex and rational architectonics. Ants are characterized by a special quality - "sociality", that is, the obligatory existence only of communities (families, communities). It was this quality that allowed ants to take pride of place in the world of invertebrates.

Since ancient times, the life of industrious ants has been a subject of constant observation and keen interest for people. Even in ancient legends, poetic works and even in the Bible, attention was paid to these hymenoptera insects. However, despite the long period of study of ants, we still do not know much about them.

Ants appeared on our planet two hundred million years ago. The ancestors of modern ants were underground predators, only much later they mastered the surface of the earth and climbed trees. Over time, some forms of ants died out, others appeared, and now scientists have about eight thousand different species.

Ant communities have a complex structure. There is a family occupying a nest (some have several nests). Within the family there are groups with a constant composition, with their own sector of the nest. They can separate, forming daughter families. With the mother, they maintain regular family relations. Such a complex is called a colony. Several colonies can be combined into one federation. What links these groups to each other?

They share an exchange. Ants intensively change larvae, pupae, even adults, and, of course, food. Having collected sweet honey dew, the ant passes it on to the oncoming comrades, those to others, etc. Every day, an impressive stream of substances flows into the anthill and spreads over it, covering not only adults, but also larvae, eggs. In the same way, as in a relay race, secretions of various glands and enzymes are transmitted. This regulates the life of the anthill. As you can see, to answer the question "where did the ant have lunch?" definitely impossible: he can do it anywhere, meeting a more well-fed fellow.

In our forests, red forest ants are a common species ( Fjrmica rufa ) .

Ants live in families. There are about one million inhabitants in the nest of the red forest ant. Ants have three main castes: males, females, and worker individuals, which are asexual females. In the life of ants there is age and caste polyethism. By age-related polyethism, they mean a change in the “professional” activity of ants during their life. If different functions in the nest are performed by ants of the same age, but of different sizes and structures, then we are talking about caste polyethism.

The nests of ants are very diverse: moss and earthen hummocks, mounds of earthen lumps and plant remains. On average, four to five million needles and twigs are used to build one nest.

Ants orient themselves in space by ground objects, as well as by the light of the sun. A special system of perception of the environment is created by odorous chemicals secreted by ants - pheromones.

Ants communicate with each other by touching antennae located on their heads. So they convey various information in a language that only they understand.

What is the role of ants in nature? She is huge.

Ants are known as the most beneficial insects. Everyone knows the role of ants in the biocenosis - accelerating the decomposition of plant residues, reducing the number of wintering and stem pests, and thereby promoting the growth of forest stand. In many respects, an anthill is a convenient model object for studying the principles of organization of biological systems, population structure and cenoses, and a number of problems important for science and practice.

The study of the lifestyle of an anthill, the extra-nesting activity of red forest ants seems to me a very interesting and urgent task. Ants loosen the soil, creating conditions for supplying it with air, accelerate the decomposition of plant residues and fertilize the soil with humus, destroy many wood-destroying insects, contributing to the growth of forest stand. At the same time, leaf-eating insects make up 90% of the diet. Ants are active predators. They quickly switch to new plentiful food sources and thus can suppress pest outbreaks. On the other hand, the ants themselves are excellent food for songbirds, hazel grouse, black grouse, badgers, foxes, and bears.

Thus, ants can suppress the centers of mass reproduction of pests. The radius of protective action of the middle nest (about 1 meter in diameter and 55 cm high dome) of red forest ants from pine and other scoops, sawflies, a number of moths - 30 meters, silkworms and May beetles - 10 meters. Four medium nests per hectare of forest guarantee protection from leaf-eating pests.

In addition, ants improve the water regime of the soil and regulate its acidity. Under the anthill, it is usually lighter, less acidic.

The importance of ants in nature is also increasing due to the fact that they are one of the main links in the trophic chains of ecosystems.

The anthill itself is a hostel not only for ants, but also for hundreds of various small animals. And whoever is not here - spiders, ticks, centipedes, beetles, crickets, butterfly caterpillars ... They are attracted here by the rapid decomposition of substances, high friability of the soil, stable temperature, suitable humidity. Some cohabitants eat all kinds of garbage in the anthill, dead ants, they are not averse to profiting from ant larvae. Hosts treat such "guests" with hostility. However, they are rather indifferent to the majority, and to some they have obvious sympathy. Some "guests" are fluent in the ant language and easily beg for nutrient droplets from well-fed ants.

The basics of nutrition for almost all ants are 2 sources. The first is insects. Ants hunt or collect already dead insects (flies, dragonflies, etc.)

The second source is honeydew - the sweet secretion of aphids. The connection between ants and aphids is a prime example of "cooperation" in the animal world. Aphids provide food for ants, and ants protect them from enemies, transfer them to fresh shoots of plants, and sometimes take them to an anthill for the winter.
In addition, ants can eat plant sap, nectar, mushrooms, seeds. And although the seeds are not their main food, this is very important for the life of the forest. Many forest grasses, for example: violets, blueberries, and other plants are settled exclusively by ants. The ants bite off the appendage, but do not touch the seed itself, but carry it over a long distance. And in the deserts live ants that feed exclusively on seeds. They eat them whole, but when carried, some of them are lost.

No one needs to be convinced of the benefits of ants for humans: increasing soil fertility, destroying pests, increasing the number of useful animals ... It is no coincidence that people have long paid attention to them, and ants became the first insects that people began to use to control pests. In ancient times, the inhabitants of South Arabia carried anthills from the hills to date groves to protect precious palm trees. And now man is increasing the number and expanding the range of ants, settling them. Such work is being carried out in many European countries. They come with us too. In Ukraine, for example, over 200 thousand anthills were settled. Of course, the operation is not always successful. Nevertheless, the results are being studied, experience is accumulating bit by bit.

From the poison of red forest ants, the so-called formic alcohol was previously obtained, which was used for rubbing.

The relevance of this topic is that the number of ants per unit area in forests is very high, so they have a significant impact on the forest ecosystem. As mentioned above, ants play a huge positive role in biocenoses. However, ants experience Negative influence on the human side, when anthills are most often destroyed or the natural environment familiar to ants changes.

However, today ants (primarily red forest ants) need not so much resettlement as protection. Anthills die en masse during logging, they are barbarously ruined by illiterate tourists. Around settlements, along roads and tourist routes, in the areas of mass recreation, ant nests are becoming less and less. If things go on like this, then soon it will be necessary to think not about the resettlement of ants (there will be nothing to resettle), but about their inclusion in the Red Book.

Fortunately, some signs allow you to maintain a certain optimism. Since 1971, the All-Russian Society for the Conservation of Nature and the Ministry of Forestry of the RSFSR have been conducting Operation Ant. It includes forestries and school forestries. Facilities mass media reveal the meaning of ants. Anthills are taken into account, mapped, fenced off. In Ukraine, for example, fences have appeared around almost 230,000 ant nests, which should protect them from wild boars and unreasonable vacationers. It is forbidden to collect ant pupae for food for songbirds. Increasingly, during logging, anthills are removed and resettled from the cutting areas of the main use.

In 1973, throughout the territory of the Russian Federation, material liability for destroying anthills. For example, for damage to an anthill with a base diameter of one meter, 20 rubles are charged, and for the ruin of a two-meter ant house - 114 rubles 50 kopecks. The amount is doubled if the anthill was in the forests of the reserve, the green zone of the enterprise or the city, in the field-protective, resort, city forest.

All these measures are only the beginning of a long, difficult path, with its own problems and difficulties. Let's hope for success. Let's take care of the ants.

…The ancient Greek historian Herodotus wrote a legend about huge ants extracting grains of pure gold from the earth. But what is this gold compared to the real benefits that ants bring to nature and man?

This study is being carried out in our area.

Job hypothesis : ants have a significant impact on the forest ecosystem.

Subject of study : anthills in the vicinity of the city.

Object of study : red wood ants Fjrmica rufa ) .

Objective : to study the nature of the settlements of the red wood ant in the forest biocenosis and assess the ecological state of the forest.

Tasks:

map nests of red wood ants

conduct experiments to study the extra-nesting activity of ants

identify the role of ants in the forest ecosystem and offer recommendations for their protection.

The work was carried out during the summer of 2012-2013.

To perform the work, a forest biocenosis was chosen, located in the north-east of the village of Bastanovo. The relief of the site is flat. The climate is temperate continental with temperate warm summer and moderately cold winters. The soils are sod-podzolic, sandy loam. Groundwater occurs at medium depth. The species composition of the plant world is diverse. On the site, the first tier belongs to deciduous trees: mountain ash, alder, etc. the second tier is represented by shrubs and small trees.

The ongoing research has a practical focus. We not only study the ecological characteristics of red ants, their important role in nature is clarified, but also the protective activity of anthills is carried out

RESEARCH METHOD

In our work, we used the following methods: field research (method of laying test sites, geobotanical description, soil study), work with popular science literature, statistical method of processing results, observation method, laboratory research method, experimental method, measuring the parameters of ant nests and the length trails with a tape measure.

To carry out mapping of ant nests, it is necessary to draw the contours of the boundaries of biotopes, streams, ravines, etc. on the terrain plan; place and number all encountered anthills in the study area. It is also necessary to examine the anthills and enter all the data in a table. In addition, ant trails are studied, all data on the trails are entered into tables.

The density of the ant settlement is calculated by the formula: P = S / F, where S is the sum of the areas of the bases of the domes (sq.m.), and F is the area occupied by the biocenosis (sq.m.).

For the conduct of experiments on the study of the non-nesting life of ants, a trial site (10x10 m) was laid with one or more anthills inside. Then, inside the trial site, experiments were carried out to study the extra-nesting activity of ants.

All observations were carried out in accordance with the methodological recommendations of Kharitonov N.P. and Dunaeva E.A. In our work, we used the following methods: field research, observation method, experimental method, measuring the parameters of ant nests and the length of trails using a tape measure.

The research work was carried out according to the plan:

1. The study of popular scientific literature and the determination of the general features of the object of study - the red forest ant (Formica rufa) is a social insect.

2. Survey of the surroundings of the village of Bastanovo, finding an anthill and determining its characteristics.

3. Study of the extra-nesting life of ants:

identification of ways of communication of ants with the help of pheromones and antennae, protection of ants;

movement of ants in space, hunting instinct.

4. Studying ant trails.

5. Carrying out a short-term laboratory experiment to prove the "sociality" of ants.

6. Determining the role of ants and making recommendations for their protection.

7. Carrying out protective measures of the studied anthills.

RESULTS OF RESEARCH

Nest mapping of red wood ants

The village of Bastanovo is located 10 kilometers from the city of Sasovo; the study area was selected in the north-east of the city. We have chosen a forest biotope, which is limited in the north and east by fields, in the south by a forest road, in the west by a path that leads to residential buildings. A careful examination of the trunks and branches of trees revealed various damage. If we compare the current state of the site with previous years, it can be noted that the anthropogenic load on the site is increasing every year. More damaged trees appear both as a result of human impact and as a result of damage by harmful insects. In autumn, 4 damaged trees were cut down.

On the study area, with an area of 720 sq.m. only 4 anthills were found. The domes of all anthills are bell-shaped.

Table 1

General data on forest survey

total area forests

Number of anthills

The size of the anthills

Number of trails

whole

destroyed

Total

Large

Average

Small

Average per anthill

General by site

720 sq.m.

table 2

General data on discovered anthills

number of anthills

Size of anthills

Number of trails leading from the anthill

The state of the anthill

Base diameter

Height

Dome base area (sq.m)

0,86

not violated

0,46

Scattered in half

0,52

not violated

0,28

not violated

Table 3

Sizes of anthills in the study area

anthill number

Height in cm

Diameter in cm

2012

2013

2012

2013

Description of the ant.

How is an anthill arranged?

All ants that live in our country live in nests. They build them on the ground. Outside, they can be seen on the heaps of earth. Inside, an underground gallery leads to cells that are interconnected. The depth of nests varies from 30 cm to 2 m. The dome of the nest consists of twigs - it has a protective function, it protects from rain, wind, snow. Inside the dome consists of large branches, a constant temperature of 26-29 o C is maintained there. And ants hibernate in the underground part.

The physical and geographical position of the trial site on which the studied anthill is located.

The study area is located 400 m northeast of the village. Bastanovo. The relief is a slightly hilly plain. The forest canopy contains many typical oak plants. Corydalis, anemone, lungwort, May lily of the valley and chistyak bloom in spring. Later, they are joined by medicinal, chickweed, oregano, stone fruit, yasnotka, pearl barley, wild strawberries, and doubtful violet. Luxurious cover forms here bracken fern. There are many other herbs in the oak forests that you will not see in the open steppe: bluebells, fireweed, gentian, dawn, buten, angelica, skewer, smolevka, maryannik. The species composition of the plant world is diverse, the dominant species are oak, aspen, birch, undergrowth is represented by aspen, thorns, grass cover is much higher and denser around anthills and consists mainly of plants that are demanding on soil fertility, but at the same time capable of growing on acidic soils : feather grass on open areas, wormwood, wild strawberry, common nettle. The grass cover in the shrub thickets is represented by meadow-steppe herbs: common oregano, medicinal burnet, steppe sage, real bedstraw, Russian cornflower with an admixture of beautiful feather grass, awnless bonfire and other cereals. The soil cover is chernozem. According to the mechanical composition, the most widespread are heavy loamy soils, medium loamy.

The object under study is an anthill.

The largest anthill No. 1 is located on the south side of the tree under the oaks. The sloping part of the anthill is located on the south side. Next to it, at a distance of 4 m, there are 3 more anthills, lower, but with the same steep dome.

The entire anthill No. 1 is riddled with passages (especially in the middle and on top), along which ants drag small construction material: woody and herbaceous particles, twigs, scales, blades of grass, leaves.

Soil study results.

Table 3. Comparative table of soil characteristics far away and near the anthill.

signs

Indicators near the anthill

Indicators away from the anthill

Structure

Structural

Less structural

Mechanical composition

light loam

Medium loam

Degree of trampling down

slightly trampled near the anthill (with a strong blow, the shovel entered the soil to a depth of 5 cm.

the soil is moderately trampled, because the shovel entered the ground to a depth of 3.5 cm.

Humidity

hydrated

fresh

Temperature

24ºС

22ºС

Acidity

Sour (color change of litmus paper to red)

slightly acidic

Table analysis.

According to the table, the soil of the anthill is more structural, of better mechanical composition, more loose, moist, and therefore more fertile. The temperature of the soil near the nest is higher than in the distance. This is primarily due to the fact that inside the anthill itself the temperature is higher than outside, respectively, and the soil also warms up.

The acidity of the soil in the anthill is also increased.

Conclusion: in natural biocenoses, nest-building activity of ants, is of great soil-forming importance :

When laying nests, ants loosen the soil and facilitate air access to the roots of the plant. In addition, ants excrete excrement, bring various organic residues into the nest, and thereby enrich the soil with carbon, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and many trace elements, thereby making the soil more fertile.

A specific environment is formed in the nests, which contributes to a more rapid decomposition of plant residues falling into the nest, an increase in the biological activity of soils, because. at a higher nest temperature than in the surrounding soil, the microflora - bacteria, fungi - develops better in the anthill. Decomposition is accelerated tenfold.

So researched nest of red wood ants more than 1 m in diameter is a "fertility factory" and so powerful that it is able to have a serious impact on the growth of not only grasses and shrubs growing directly near anthills, but also trees that are quite distant from the anthill.

Ant roads

There is a certain relationship between the living power of the ant family - the population of the anthill - and the size, area of the feeding area, the abundance of food on it and the distribution of this food. At the time of mass reproduction of some insects consumed by ants, the area of the feeding area noticeably decreases, and as the territory becomes depleted in terms of food, it increases again.

But the height and volume of the nest dome on the anthill do not always reflect the strength of the family and give a correct idea of its age. It is more correct to judge the size of the population of the anthill and its age by the condition and length of the ant roads and the intensity of traffic on these roads, but, of course, taking into account other accompanying circumstances.

The roads around the anthills have been formed over the years. The road system around the anthill is not just “trampled” by the paws of an uncountable number of foragers running through here, but also cleared, leveled, profiled, and on separate sections sometimes even tunnelled.

This suggests that ants of later generations inherit from previous generations an already established network of roads, which only needs to be updated and maintained in order. Yes, and putting the nest in order after wintering also requires significantly less cost family manpower than new construction. All this ultimately contributes to an increase in the efficiency of worker ants and, especially, foragers from families living in old nests: each cubic decimeter of the nest, each running meter ant roads is cheaper for the old anthill, and this frees up the activity of worker ants for forager raids for prey.

The observations of the paths along which the movement of ant streams in the study area is carried out showed the following. Most of the trails correspond to foraging, since ants transport food along them. The paths are laid mainly to the trunks of trees with traces of damage by various pests, to clusters of knots and twigs, leaf litter. The maximum traffic on the trails is observed in the daytime.

Table 4

Characteristics of ant trails

№ trails

(anthill number)

Purpose of the trail

Trail length (m)

Trail end point

1 (№1)

12,7

On the trees

2 (№1)