Ants inhabiting stumps on clearcuts in managed forest in western Poland

Abstract

We studied ant communities living in stumps left on clearcuts. The clearcuts were located in a managed forest in western Poland. Depending on the study site, 10-80% of the stumps were inhabited by ant colonies. Lasius platythorax was the dominant of the community. We found the diameter of the stump to be positively related with the occurrence of some ant species. In general, oak and pine stumps were inhabited in a similar proportion. Formica fusca, however, showed a distinct preference for oaks. All species avoided each other with exception of F. fusca which preferred all species other than L. platythorax. We did not find the presence of red wood ants to significantly affect the occurrence of ant colonies in these stumps. The results of our investigations indicate that stumps left on clearcuts are convenient nest site for ants. Leaving stumps affects positively the growth of the L. platythorax population.