Microbiological activity in the anthills of fallow lands (Ryazan Region)

A bacterial complex associated with several species of ants, the inhabiting soil, and their anthills was studied. The biodiversity of bacteria in ants was higher than that in the anthills and control soil. The latter was dominated by Bacillus (more than 80%); the anthill of Formica was dominated by the Flavobacterium-Bacteroides-Cytophaga group. In addition, actinomycetes were widespread in the anthills of Formica and Lisius. Numerous staphylococci (20%) were found in the L. flavus ants, but the main dominants of the bacterial community were Streptomyces bacteria (68.5%). Tetramorium had no pronounced dominants and many Bacteroides bacteria (28%). Actinomycetes of Streptomyces were detected in the bacterial complexes of all studied ants, except for F. cunicularia.