Monitoring Methodology for European Formica rufa Species Group

Authors: Antonova V*

DOI: 10.23880/oajeo-16000104

Volume 2, Issue 1

Abstract

The objects of the purposed methodology are the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the European Formica rufa group (red wood ants). As protected species in the ecosystems in temperate forests, the trend of their populations’ dynamic has to be observed periodically. The existing monitoring methods in the literature have been modified and optimized in the current paper. The purpose was to leave only the environmental parameters most related to the habitat preferences of red wood ants and which may be feasible in the field by a team of two experts per sampling site. The fieldwork is described in detail. The monitoring of the red wood ants is suggested to be done annually or in a maximum of five years.

Keywords: Fieldwork; Nest Density; Protected Species; Temperate Forests

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