Critical Habitat Elements, with an Emphasis on Coarse Woody Debris, Associated with Ant Presence or Absence in the Moist Cold Sub-Boreal Forests of the Interior of British Columbia

Robert J Higgins,B Staffan Lindgren,Michael G Gillingham

doi:10.3390/f8040129

Robert J Higgins, B Staffan Lindgren + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/f8040129

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Abstract

Given both the ubiquity and ecological roles described for ants in British Columbia, an understanding of the habitat elements critical to predicting their presence is desirable. We used logistic regression to model the presence and absence of ants in sub-boreal lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm. ex S. Watson) forests of west-central British Columbia (BC). Methodological emphasis was placed on the association between ants and coarse woody debris (CWD) because of a high degree of utilization of this resource for nesting. Five species of ants, Camponotus herculeanus (L.), Formica aserva Forel, F. neorufibarbis Emery, Leptothorax muscorum (Nylander), and Myrmica alaskensis Wheeler, comprised approximately 90% of all captures in samples of CWD within five seral ages (2–3, 8–10, 13–15, 23–25 years post-harvest, and non-harvested stands). Seral age, presence of other ant colonies of the same species, decay class of CWD, its surface area, and whether the wood was downed woody debris (DWD) or a stump, were significant variables affecting ant presence or absence. These results are explained in the context of ant species autecology as it relates to living in cool climates.

Highlights

Predicting the presence or absence of species within their geographic range has been of interest to biologists for many years [1,2]
Ants appear to be able to utilize a broad range of woody debris sizes and decay classes, it was clear that large pieces are preferred by many species, especially those forming larger colonies (e.g., C. herculeanus and F. aserva)
The retention of larger pieces of woody debris should be a management objective, as ants are ecologically important from a number of perspectives

Summary

Introduction

Predicting the presence or absence of species within their geographic range has been of interest to biologists for many years [1,2]. Presence-absence models are important to conservation biologists attempting to define critical habitat elements necessary for species protection [3,4] and increasingly, to identify habitats that may be open to the introduction of invasive species [5,6]. Such models are of use to ecologists attempting to define the ecological niche of poorly understood species or species assemblages. No direct consideration has been given to what elements in the habitat are required for the ant community itself

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