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Post by Wood~Ant on Jan 4, 2012 14:02:10 GMT
The most endangered ant in Britain is undoubtably Formica rufibarbis. Check out this link for information on the UK conservation effort to save this lovely British ant species. Red Barbed Ant Conservation |
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Post by bobdol on Jan 4, 2012 17:57:45 GMT
I wasn't aware F. rufa lived on the scilly isles and find it quite surprising seeing as there is not a huge amount of forest there. I've often wanted to visit them and if I do go will definitely keep an eye out for these famous wood ants!
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jan 4, 2012 18:42:14 GMT
I wasn't aware F. rufa lived on the scilly isles and find it quite surprising seeing as there is not a huge amount of forest there. I've often wanted to visit them and if I do go will definitely keep an eye out for these famous wood ants! No, it isn't F. rufa that live in the Scilly Isles, but the rarer ant species F. rufibarbis. This species is fairly common in other European countries, but only occurs in Surrey and the Isles of Scilly here in Britain. |
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Post by batspiderfish on Jan 4, 2012 20:54:40 GMT
I don't see the value of releasing these ants in the mainland when the original populations have already been driven out in competition for available space by other native species. The only way to bring their numbers back is to restore the functionality of the habitat which is believed to be theirs, not to slavishly renew colonies to a small habitat that rejects them. Habitat is what sustains population, not population itself. It's easy to mistake red and black Formica for F. rufa or cousins of F. rufa, but Formica rufibarbis is actually a close relative of Formica fusca.  |
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jan 5, 2012 8:31:36 GMT
I don't see the value of releasing these ants in the mainland when the original populations have already been driven out in competition for available space by other native species. The only way to bring their numbers back is to restore the functionality of the habitat which is believed to be theirs, not to slavishly renew colonies to a small habitat that rejects them. Habitat is what sustains population, not population itself. A point well made BSF, and I agree with you on principal. However, the team up in Surrey are also trying to make pockets of suitable habitat in the area where rufibarbis have still retained a foothold. Being a fairly large and strong ant, it is mainly the lack of male production which has somehow contributed to their decline; but the new stock is from other countries such as Germany, and over the past 2 years there has been a slow, but steady success re-introducing the species. The conservation area has been carefully protected and hopefully cleared of major predators, as the decline of the species has been studied in great detail by several entomologists from Surrey and other universities. Time will tell if the effort pays off of course, though there are some positive signs it may be doing so.  |
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streule
Callow Ant 
Posts: 59
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Post by streule on Jan 5, 2012 8:48:38 GMT
Do F.rufibarbis have soldiers in their colony's or it just all workers  Streule |
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jan 5, 2012 8:56:20 GMT
Do F.rufibarbis have soldiers in their colony's or it just all workers Streule No British ant species have a soldier caste, though Formica do have large major workers almost as big as the queens (approx. 3/4 the size). Older workers act as foragers and also guard the nest, so they perform the role of soldiers; but they are not a specialized ant in any way, as all worker ants will defend the nest and sacrifice themselves to save the queens and brood to ensure the life of the colony.  |
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Post by bobdol on Jan 5, 2012 17:23:36 GMT
I must admit I never knew F. rufibarbis was not part of the F. rufa group and always thought it was one of the true wood ants... I always loved the colour of F. rufibarbis but believing it was one of the F. rufa group never thought it could be kept in captivity.
It surprises me too hear its endangered seeing as it is part of the F. fusca group as these ants seem very flexible and prosperous, reminding me of a larger Lasius niger.
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Post by batspiderfish on Jan 5, 2012 19:57:04 GMT
I also think it's a fallacy to consider the Formica rufibarbis of Germany to be the same ant as British F. rufibarbis. We do our best to classify the life around us with scientific names, but the fact that the German varieties are having success while the native varieties are failing proves that they are not the same ant, even if they do have the same name and can reproduce with the local F. rufibarbis. I've never been very comfortable with how much is overlooked when considering the organisms that are represented by species names; there's no point in stretching our limited ability to categorize life further than it already is stretched, but we must keep in mind that every creature is a product of its environment; unless Germany is Britain, animals that come from Germany are not native to Britain. Life is not the black and white that taxonomy might imply.
I think that by adding these ants, we are engaging in more ecological meddling than healing. I'm very happy that habitat rehabilitation is the important standard here. However, I'm worried that we aren't understanding what we're doing. Essentially, the population of locally-adapted rufibarbis is going to be snuffed out by a foreign ant, and other natives are going to have to deal with the extra competition. The reintroduction becomes an aesthetic measure instead of an ecological one.
I do have a bias against the trade or distribution of ants, and it's hypocritical, because I'm not yet above buying other organisms, but I don't believe I'm incorrect in thinking or saying this.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jan 5, 2012 23:20:33 GMT
I don't know much about the genetics, but as far as I know the English rufibarbis may not be so far removed from those from Germany, France or Poland. So sorry BSF, but I cannot see your logic in what you say. If the English had never gone to America, then places like New York or New England, Boston and Birmingham would have different names to what they have now. So using some stock of a species from Europe to help repopulate the British rufibarbis makes sense, as it is not like they are going to use a completely different species or genera. Perhaps we should think of the ants as pioneers going forth to save the settlers out west, and so make a brave new world for our British rufibarbis  To avoid this thread turning into a debate about the pros and cons of this project, it is now locked. |
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Post by Wood~Ant on Feb 12, 2012 8:36:19 GMT
From this item of news, it seems most of the relocated ant colonies came from queens collected of the Scilly Isles, which is part of Britain being just a short distance from Land's End on the south west tip of Cornwall.  Rufibarbis News |
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