Role of Food Supply in Structuring a Population of Formica Ants

Abstract

1. In Elk Island National Park, Alberta, Canada, we studied the role of food supply in structuring a population of the ant Formica podzolica by examining the association between natural food levels and abundance, distribution and alate production of colonies, and comparing alate production of fed and unfed colonies. 2. Nest densities and reproductive output of colonies were greatest along forest edges, intermediate in grazed meadows and lowest in overgrazed meadows. These patterns among habitats were associated positively with natural food levels. 3. Colonies were dispersed uniformly on plots along forest edges, but dispersed either uniformly or randomly on plots in grazed and overgrazed meadows