Trail system in red wood ants (Formica rufa Group) under recreation press

The influence of recreation press on the forager trail system in red wood ants was examined. The model settlement of these ants was situated in green moss-pine forest, comprising areas with a different degree of the recreation press. In 2007, trail systems of 36 anthills were mapped (a total of 136 trails). In 2009, two nests from each group at each digression stage were selected as model objects. These nests possessed close to average values of the cupola diameter (d) and the number of trophic trails (n _c ). In these 6 model nests, trail systems (a total of 33 trails) were re-mapped and the strength of columns was estimated. It had been found that the recreation press decreases the population number in families of red wood ants. Trophic trails become shorter, their structure is simplified, and the number of trees with aphid colonies decreases. When the size of the family decreases owing to irregular decrease in the population number of separate columns, columns possessing non-ramified (less “efficient”) trails disappear first. Weakening of the family decreases the mobility of the trail network; trees with aphid colonies become more important.