Our research group
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Our research group (from left to right):
Vitali Vedernikov, Tatyana Novgorodova, Natalya Bugrova, Sophia Panteleeva, Zhanna Reznikova, Helen Dorosheva, Ivan Yakovlev, Anton Chernenko
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Our main subjects for many years are ants (
photo1,
photo2)
One of our current projects concerns
the role of ants
as "tutors" in
invertebrate communities. (see: Reznikova, 1998, 1999, 2003; Reznikova, Novgorodova, 1998; Reznikova, Panteleeva, 2001;Reznikova, Dorosheva, 2000, 2004).
The main problem concerns a role of flexibility, learning and communication
in maintaining community structure. Our methodological approach is based on the methods
of behavioural ecology. We have developed methods of field and laboratory experiments
in which natural situations are simulated in rather dramatic manner, and that enable
us to separate different factors which shape animal's behaviour (mazes for studying
ants ability to learn:
ringmaze1,
ringmaze2,
rotator).
Long term field experiments resulted in a concept of a balance between positive
(mutualistic) and negative ( predation, competition and parasitic) relations within insect species communities.
Primacy of flexibility and learning has been revealed in a process of shaping of hierarchical structure of insect communities. Experimental investigations of ants-aphids mutialistic relations have revealed unequal treaty in different ant species collecting honeydew from aphids' population dwelling on a common territory. It turned out that dominant ant species possessing the most complex system of communication as well as of division of labour invest more efforts in the prosperity of aphids' populations than other members of ants' community. The role of ant-hills has been shown as centers for hibernating and then propagation of micro-arthropods. We also have discovered amazing capability of mass small soil ants for active hunting for jumping sprigtails. Surprisingly, complex behavioural pattern in hunting ants is shaped not only by inherited acts but also by learned behaviour. Field and laboratory experiments have demonstrated that red wood ants play a part of "tutors" for many arthropods dwelling on their territory. The ants influence spatial distribution of other invertebrates and even "teach" them to behave on common plots.
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