Kekomuurahaisten vaikutus puuston kasvuun ja hiilen sekä ravinteiden virtaan metsäekosysteemissä (ANTS –hanke)

Do wood ants play an important role in carbon and nutrient dynamics in boreal managed forests? (ANTS)

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Photo:Timo Domisch Ant mound

Aims of the project and hypotheses
Background
Cooperation, members of the project
Study areas
Methods and measurements
Contact information
Publications

Workshop on the Role of Red Wood Ants in Carbon and Nutrient Dynamics of Forest Ecosystems - Utsjoki, Kevo, September 10-11, 2004

Aims of the project and hypotheses

The aims of the project are:

1. to quantify carbon and nutrient pools in wood ant mounds in boreal managed mixed conifer-hardwood forests of different age,
   
2. to determine changes in ant mound density, size and spatial distribution after timber harvest,
   
3. to assess annual mound inputs (litter, honeydew, prey) and outputs, such as CO2 emission and nutrient mineralisation from ant mounds in boreal coniferous forests of different age, and
   
4. to determine how tree growth is affected by the mutual relationship of wood ants and aphids in coniferous forests at different stages after timber harvest.

We present the following hypotheses:

1. A significant proportion of annual carbon and nutrient fluxes in boreal mixed coniferous forests are cycled through ant mounds
   
2. Timber harvesting has a negative effect on wood ant activity and their role in carbon and nutrient cycling, and carbon and nutrient accumulation into mounds is greatly reduced.
   
3. The protection of aphids by wood ants reduces the growth of coniferous trees, which is economically important.

This study will significantly increase our ecosystem level understanding on the role of wood ants in the functioning of boreal forests. Valuable information will be obtained on the impact of wood ants on carbon and nutrient cycling in Finnish forest, and on the possible effect of the ant-aphid-relationship on tree growth.

The project (running 2003-2006) is financed by the Academy of Finland.