Dynamics of Herbaceous Layer Structure around
the Nests of Formica aquilonia Yarr.
at Initial Stages of Their Formation

N. M. Bugrova^a and L. B. Pshenitsyna^b

^aInstitute of Animal Systematics and Ecology, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences,

ul. Frunze 11, Novosibirsk, 630091 Russia

e-mail: bugrova@post.nsu.ru

^bNovosibirsk State University, ul. Pirogova 2, Novosibirsk, 630090 Russia

e-mail: lbp@fen.nsu.ru

Received December 19, 2007

Abstract—The time course of changes in characteristics of herbaceous vegetation around Formica aquilonia
Yarr. ant nests formed from artificially relocated fragments of original families was studied over 6 years. At the
initial stage of nest formation, species richness and diversity of the herbaceous layer decreased, and its taxo-
nomic, spatial, phytocenotic, and ecological structure changed. Trivialization of vegetation around anthills was
observed. The proportion of zoochorous and anemophilous plants with narrow or strongly dissected leaves
increased in the developing myrmecotopic assemblages.

DOI: 10.1134/S1067413609040080

Key words: myrmecotopic assemblages of herbaceous plants, Formica aquilonia Yarr., structural transforma-
tion of herbaceous layer.

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