Open AccessThe correlation analysis between ant mounds and plant resource in Olkhon region
Author(s) -
Сюй Ван,
Цинси Ху,
Вэйчжэн Кун,
Чэньян Чжан,
Шань Цзя,
Юань Чан,
Вэй Дэн,
А. В. Лиштва,
В. Г. Шиленков,
Чжунцю Ли,
Синзюнь Тянь
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
nauki o zemle i nedropolʹzovanie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2686-7931
pISSN - 2686-9993
DOI - 10.21285/2686-9993-2020-43-3-436-446
Subject(s) - quadrat , ecology , spatial distribution , foraging , ant , ecosystem , vegetation (pathology) , bog , geography , biology , peat , shrub , medicine , remote sensing , pathology
Olkhon region in East Siberia has abundant and unique vegetation and animal resource for its peculiar geographic location, including ants. Ant, recognized as ecosystem engineers, has an important role in ecosystem. In order to investigate the ecological role of mound-building ants in this region, we focused our attention on the correlation between the distribution of ant mounds and plant species. Five quadrats (5 m × 5 m) were set up in this region, each of which was then divided into twenty-five quadrats (1 m × 1 m). We collected the location of every Black Bog Ant ( Formica candida ) mound, the number and biomass of various plants in every small quadrat. Using matrices, we tested the distribution pattern of ant mound randomly. The correlation between plants and ant mound pattern was tested by correlation analysis and regression analysis. The result showed that the spatial distribution of ant mound was random. We also found that Artemisia frigida , Carexduriuscula and Oxytropis sylvesfris had a significant linear relationship with the spatial distribution of ant mound (P < 0.05), suggesting that the spatial distribution of ant mound was dependent on the spatial distribution of some plants. The underlying mechanism was further studied. We attributed this correlation to the feeding habits and foraging strategies of Black Bog Ant and tissue structure of these three plants. Our study figured out the interaction between Black Bog Ant and plant resource in Olkhon region, laying down the foundation for future study on the co-evolution of plant and animal resource in this unique ecosystem.