Ants of the central part of the Kungurskaya forest-steppe in Permskii Krai of Russia

Abstract

The Kungurskaya forest-steppe, the natural botanical phenomenon in Permskaya Oblast of the Urals region of Russia is the northernmost area of stipa-steppes located in subtaiga zone with spruce-fir forests. The ant fauna of the Central part of the Kungurskaya forest-steppe is studied within nine localities near Kungur town. 29 species from 8 genera and 2 subfamilies are revealed, of which three species, Formica glauca Ruzsky, 1895, Lasius umbratus Nylander, 1946 and Polyergus rufescens Latreille, 1798, are registered for this territory for the first time. At present, 32 ant species are known for the Kungurskaya forest-steppe, with the species richness revealed as highest in Spasskaya mountain (23 species), and as minor in Ust-Kishert village (9 species), Belaya mountain (9 species) and in pine forest near Kungur town (7 species). Local faunas similarity analysis presented three separate groups of ants inhabiting following typical biotopes: - disturbed territories typical by man-impact tolerant species Lasius niger (Linnaeus, 1758) and Myrmica ruginodis Nylander, 1846 predominance; - birch forests with grass meadows located on plains with ant species of Formica rufa Linnaeus, 1761 group and species of the subgenus Formica (Coptoformica) Mueller, 1923, as well as F. fusca Linnaeus, 1758, Lasius niger (L.), L. longiceps Seifert, 1988 and Myrmica schencki Viereck, 1903; - steppe associations in areas with pronounced relief and predominance of Formica pratensis Retzius, 1783, F. rufibarbis Fabricius, 1793, F. cunicularia Latreille, 1798, Tetramorium caespitum (Linnaeus, 1758), Myrmica schencki Viereck, 1903 and M. rugulosa Nylander, 1849. Ant fauna of the Central part of the Kungurskaya forest-steppe was formed under the influence of meso-relief that determined micro-habitats characters. © 2023 The Author(s).