Indirect Effects in Boreal Ant Assemblages: Territorial Wood Ants Protect Potential Slaves Against Enslaving Ants

Abstract

Abstract. The facultative enslaver Formica sanguinea Latr. uses as slaves F. fusca L. and other species of the subgenus Serviformica For. Earlier observations have shown or suggested that strong territorial wood-ant species, by defending their own territories, interfere with raids by F. sanguinea such that colonies of potential slave species gain protection against raids. At the population level, such protection should be visible as higher nest densities of F. fusca within than outside wood-ant territories, when both areas are within raiding distance of F. sanguinea. Here we tested this hypothesis by mapping nest densities of F. fusca. As expected, nest densities of F. fusca were higher within than outside wood-ant territories. In contrast, nest densities of two aggressive species, Lasius platythorax Seifert and L. niger (L.), unsuitable as slaves, were as expected lower within than outside wood-ant territories. Our results concur with earlier studies based on pitfall trapping, baiting experiments, and in...