COMPLEXES OF FORMICA S. STR. NESTS IN THE DARWIN NATURE RESERVE AND CAUSES OF THEIR DEGRADATION

摘要

Complexes of Formica ants were studied in the Darwin Nature Reserve, in the basin of the Rybinsk Reservoir (Vologda and Yaroslavl regions). A strong negative influence of boars was ascertained on the basis of the data obtained in 1997-2012. Wild boars disturb ants' nests (niduses), which results in their full destruction. The adverse influence of wild boars is intensified within the years with the high water level in the Rybinsk Reservoir. Wild boars cannot feed in the coastal zone released from water, so it increases the load on the forest in these years, and ants' nests. Herewith, wild boars strongly destroy ants' nests. Resulted from the long-term period of high water lasted from 2004 and a strong press of wild boars, the number of ants' nests and their size have drastically decreased. Thereafter, the abundance and biomass of ants in forest ecosystems was reduced.