The effect of red wood ant (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Formica rufa</Emphasis> group) mounds on root biomass,density, and nutrient concentrations in boreal managed forests |
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Authors: | Mizue Ohashi Jouni Kilpeläinen Leena Finér Anita C Risch Timo Domisch Seppo Neuvonen Pekka Niemelä |
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Institution: | (1) Joensuu Research Unit, Finnish Forest Research Institute, PO Box 68 Joensuu FI-80101, Finland;(2) Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, Birmensdorf, Switzerland;(3) Faculty of Forestry, University of Joensuu, Joensuu, Finland |
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Abstract: | Red wood ants (Formica rufa group, RWAs) are common insects in boreal forests in Fennoscandia, and they build large, long-lived mounds as their nests.
RWA mounds are enriched with carbon and nutrients, but little information is available about how they affect root distribution
and the nutrient uptake of trees. In this study, we investigated the biomass, biomass density, nutrient concentrations, and
amounts of fine (<2 mm) and coarse (>2 mm) roots in RWA mounds, and compared them with those of surrounding forest soil in
mixed coniferous stands of different age classes in Finland. Neither fine nor coarse root biomasses differed significantly
between the aboveground parts of the mounds and the organic layer of the soil. Root biomass density was lower in mounds than
in the organic layer. However, fine root biomass and biomass density were higher in the belowground parts of mounds than in
the surrounding mineral soil. Macroelement (N, Ca, K, P, S, Mg) and Zn and Cu concentrations in roots in the mounds were significantly
higher than those in the organic layer. Root biomass and biomass density did not differ between stands of different age classes.
The results of this study indicate that RWA mounds increase heterogeneity in root distribution in forest ecosystems, and also
increase the availability of nutrients for plants that extend their roots inside RWA mounds. |
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Keywords: | Clear-cutting Boreal forest Norway spruce Nutrient concentration Root biomass |
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