Líffræðifélag Íslands - biologia.is
Líffræðiráðstefnan 2021

Erindi/veggspjald / Talk/poster E5

Experimental tests of unicoloniality in Hypoponera species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) living underground Reykjavík

Höfundar / Authors: Marco Mancini (1), Andreas Guðmundsson (1), Mariana Lucia Tamayo (1), James K. Wetterer (2), Arnar Pálsson (1)

Starfsvettvangur / Affiliations: 1. University of Iceland, 2. Florida Atlantic University

Kynnir / Presenter: Marco Mancini

Some ant species are among the most harmful invasive organisms on the planet and can have a devastating impact on the environments in which they are introduced. In the last decades, several invasive ant species have been found in Iceland, particularly in Reykjavík, and the knowledge about their distribution and spread is still limited. Records from the University of Iceland and the Icelandic Institute of Natural History show that Húsamaur (Hypoponera punctatissima/ergatandria), which was first found in Iceland in 1974, is undoubtedly the most widespread ant species in Reykjavík (>400 records to date). Due to the peculiarities of their behavior and nesting habits, colonies of this species cannot be exterminated by pest management professionals, and urban development and global warming surely boost their expansion patterns. We hypothesized that an ant supercolony exists underground Reykjavík, possibly spreading through the sewer system. We will use two approaches to investigate the relatedness of individuals and populations: i) Behavioral tests focused on interactions (friendly vs. aggressive) and ii) Analyses of DNA to test for genetic similarities and differences. Preliminary results from the behavioral tests strongly suggest low intraspecific competition and DNA data will help clarify the issue. This research forms an indispensable contribution towards understanding the spread of invasive ants in a subarctic urban environment.