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Cohabitation of tree holes by ants and breeding birds in a temperate deciduous forest |
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| Authors: | S?awomir Mitrus Grzegorz Hebda Tomasz Weso?owski |
| Institution: | 1. Laboratory of Evolution and Animal Ecology, Department of Biosystematics, Opole University, Oleska 22, 45-052 Opole, Polandsmitrus@uni.opole.pl;3. Laboratory of Evolution and Animal Ecology, Department of Biosystematics, Opole University, Oleska 22, 45-052 Opole, Poland;4. Laboratory of Forest Biology, Wroc?aw University, Sienkiewicza 21, 50-335 Wroc?aw, Poland |
| Abstract: | A previously unknown association of ants with birds breeding in tree holes is described. Ants Lasius brunneus Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were found in c. 15% of nests of Parus major L. and Poecile palustris L. (Paridae) breeding in tree holes in the primeval deciduous forest located in the Bia?owie?a National Park (Poland). The ants preferably used holes located higher above the ground. As such holes are warmer than the unused holes or other nest sites, it is suggested that the ants cohabit holes utilized by the tits to gain thermal benefits. |
| Keywords: | Lasius brunneus Parus major Poecile palustris microclimate of tree holes Bia?owie?a National Park |