ISSN:
1420-9098
Keywords:
Computer simulation
;
wood ants
;
queen dominance
;
social parasitism
;
dispersal strategy
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Summary Wood ants of theFormica rufa species complex are typically bound to woodland habitats and their eventual colonization of more open habitats depends on the presence of a sufficient number of woody plants. Computer simulations of the long-term development of large wood ant populations in woodland systems of differing structure were performed. A cellular, stochastic automation model simulated the alternatives of a compact, coherent woodland system and a fragmented, coarse-grained woodland system. The simulation of a compact woodland system gave evidence that disruptive selection alone may be sufficient to produce two distinct ectotypes, which are known asFormica rufa andFormica polyctena, even if there is a full fertility of the crosses. The simulation of a fragmented, coarse-grained woodland system has supported the view, that a high local frequency of nests with intermediate phenotypes might be explainable by a particular woodland pattern which favour mixed strategies. It was shown that queen dominance and intraspecific social parasitism are likely to be important factors in the dynamics of large wood ant populations.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01258409
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