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The effect of neighbours on the mortality of harvester ant colonies
Article first published online: 5 JAN 2002
DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2656.1998.00169.x
British Ecological Society 1997
1365-2656/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=e1c445961d632cd41e33852af907c4900097559b "Journal of Animal Ecology")
Additional Information
How to Cite
Gordon, D. M. and Kulig, A. (1998), The effect of neighbours on the mortality of harvester ant colonies. Journal of Animal Ecology, 67: 141–148. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2656.1998.00169.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 5 JAN 2002
- Article first published online: 5 JAN 2002
- Abstract
- Cited By
Keywords:
- colony size;
- density dependence;
- mortality;
- seed-eating ants
1. This study investigates how the density and size of conspecific neighbours affected the mortality of established colonies. Data were from a population of 250–300 colonies of the red harvester ant [Pogonomyrmex barbatus (F. Smith)], on a 10-ha site, from 1988 to 1995.
2. Colonies are more likely to die as they grow older.
3. Small neighbours tend to lower the probability of dying.
4. The probability of dying varied significantly from year to year.
5. There was little effect of crowding on mortality.
6. There appeared to be no spatial effects, on the scale of 25. m, on the probability of dying.
7. Previous work shows effects of density on the founding of new colonies and on the reproductive output of established ones. The results presented here indicate that competition with neighbours rarely causes the death of established colonies.