How ants find each other; temporal and spatial patterns in nuptial flights
How ants find each other; temporal and spatial patterns in nuptial flights
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DOI：
10.1007/s00040-008-1002-9
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发表时间：
2008-09-01
期刊：
影响因子：
1.3
通讯作者：
Sykora, K. V.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Noordijk, J.;Morssinkhof, R.;Sykora, K. V.
繁殖是了解种群生态学和物种发生的关键因素。然而，不同蚁种的繁殖行为模式仍然不够清楚。本文研究了森林-林缘-农田梯度中黑蚁、黑蚁、金蚁、金蚁、金蚁、臭蚁等6种蚂蚁的寻偶策略。利用窗诱捕器，研究了这些物种是否有限制的交配飞行季节，是否表现出群体行为，以及它们是否聚集在森林边缘。黑夜蛾、蓝夜蛾、红夜蛾、红夜蛾和白夜蛾的飞行季节限制在1个月或更短。除一种（L. umbratus）外，其余种均有群体行为。虽然这6个物种在森林边缘的巢密度都不是最高的，但其中3个物种（M. rubra， M. ruginodis和S. debile）在森林边缘有雄性聚集，表明这里是主要的繁殖地点。最后一个发现可能是由于更适合的小气候，但最有可能的是，边缘是蚂蚁用来与配偶见面的明显标志。雌雄蚁在森林边缘的行为模式可以影响分散景观的可能性、繁殖成功率和巢密度。
Reproduction is a key factor in understanding population ecology and therefore species occurrence. However, patterns in reproductive behaviour for distinct ant species remain insufficiently known. In this paper strategies in mate finding are studied for six ant species (Lasius niger, Lasius umbratus, Temnothorax nylanderi, Myrmica rubra, Myrmica ruginodis, Stenamma debile) in a forest - forest edge - agricultural field gradient. Using window traps, we studied whether these species had a restricted nuptial flight season, displayed swarming behaviour, and whether the alates aggregated at the forest edge. The flight season was limited to one month or less for L. niger, T. nylanderi, M. rubra, M. ruginodis and S. debile. Swarming behaviour occurred in all but one (L. umbratus) species. Although none of the six species seemed to have highest nest density at the forest edge, three of them, M. rubra, M. ruginodis and S. debile, showed male aggregations there, indicating this to be the main reproduction site. This last finding could be due to a more suitable micro-climate, but most likely, edges are conspicuous land marks which are used by ants to meet mates. The behavioural patterns of ant sexuals at the forest edge can influence dispersal possibilities in fragmented landscapes, reproductive success and nest densities.