| title: | The Use of Red Wood Ants as a Sessile Species in the Bioindication of Forest Communities |
|---|---|
| reg no: | ETF5330 |
| project type: | Estonian Science Foundation research grant |
| subject: |
4.3. Sylviculture, Forestry |
| status: | completed |
| institution: | Estonian Agricultural University |
| head of project: | Ants-Johannes Martin |
| duration: | 01.01.2002 - 31.12.2005 |
| description: | The present project has two major objectives: 1. Fundamental: to elaborate the theory of social homeostasis in ants. Our aim is to elucidate the significance of toxic and natural elements (in overdosed pollution conditions) and their influence on the development of colonies, supercolonies and settlements. At the same time the ways of eliminating pollution in the social food chain of polydomous and monodomous ant species will be elucidated. 2. Experimental: to elaborate a bioindication conception for the use of red ants, based on the biology of ants: 2.1. to explain the background of metal pollutants in the areas with different pollution loads in Estonia (suburban forests of large cities, forests close to roads with heavy traffic, etc.) 2.2. to estimate the changes which take place in forest communities of different types as well as in protected forests The compilation of instructions for the use of red wood ants as a sessile bioindicator species for the assessment of pollution, felling and recreational load in forest stands and protected forests. For the first time an attempt will be made to work out bioindication methods on the basis of the social biology of red wood ants. The methods would enable the estimation of the influence of pollution, forest management and physical load (trampling) on ant settlements, and, besides, the assessment of human load on protected forest settlements caused by pollution, different felling methods and recreation. The instructions of bioindication methods can also be applied to elaborating and improving forest management methods, diversifying forest stands and arranging the protection of red wood ants. |
| project group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no | name | institution | position | |
| 1. | Ants-Johannes Martin | Estonian Agricultural University Institute of Plant Protection | Head of laboratory | |
| 2. | Marika Mänd | Est. Agr. Univ. | res. associate | |
| 3. | Heino Õunap | Center of Forest Protection and Silviculture | chief spec. of forest protection | |