Halogenation processes linked to red wood ant nests (Formica spp.) and tectonics

Berberich, Gabriele M.; Sattler, Tobias; Klimetzek, D.; Benk, Simon; Berberich, Martin B.; Polag, Daniela; Schöler, H. F.; Atlas, Elliot L.

doi:10.1007/s10874-016-9358-0

Cited by 9 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…RWA nests were eight times more likely to be found within 60 m of known tectonic faults [12]. The results also showed that geogenic gases [13], rock formations with elevated Rn concentrations [14], fault-related CH4 emissions [15], volatile organo-halogens, alkanes and limonene [16] play key roles in the settlement of RWA nests. Physical phenomena such as tectonic stress variations in the subsurface, leading to highly mobile and oxidizing electronic charge carriers and formation of H2O2 that flow to the surface [17,18] may contribute to the survival of the colony.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…Low to moderate seismicity (ML<4.2) showed historical events exceeding ML>5.0. Geochemical soil gas anomalies indicate crustal degassing along faults [13,16,45].…”

Section: Location and Tectonic Settings Of Study Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Physical phenomena such as tectonic stress variations in the subsurface, leading to highly mobile and oxidizing electronic charge carriers and formation of H2O2 that flow to the surface [17,18] may contribute to the survival of the colony. Ants selectively consume harmful reactive oxygen species, such as H2O2 upon exposure to a fungal pathogen [16,19]. Furthermore, the ability of RWA to detect CO2-concentrations in the soil [20,21] may provide an evolutionary advantage in site selection and nest establishments, positively influence and support pupal respiration metabolism [22] and the discontinuous breathing [23,24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparison of geogases in Cenozoic sedimentary environments

Berberich¹,

Berberich²

2022

Preprint

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We investigated fault gases (helium, radon, CO2) in two seismically active Cenozoic sedimentary environments: a) Meinweg (in 2015) at a tectonically quiet horst structure in the Lower Rhine Embayment and b) Bodanrück (in 2012; Lake of Constance) at the Molasse Basin and part of the Freiburg–Bonndorf–Bodensee Fault Zone (FBBFZ). Both study areas were selected because recent “GeoBio-Interactions” findings showed, that red wood ants (RWA) are biological indicators of otherwise undetected degassing systems. A total of 817 soil gas samples was analyzed. Currently, Meinweg can be considered “no ants land” due to the very low background-level geogas concentrations. Thus, anomalies (Rn-CO2) weakly trending in NE-SW extension direction emerged. This could probably indicate the onset of (re)activation of the NE-SW trending (Variscan) structures or the development of new fractures as an aftershock process of the 1992 Roermond earthquake that occurred about 15 km to the west. Results at Bodanrück (3 RWA clusters and two RWA-free corridors) revealed degassing patterns in NW-SE and NNE-SSW directions in the clusters corresponding to re-activated and recent strike-slip fault systems. No gas anomalies were found in RWA-free corridors. The RWA nest distribution was shown to be a valuable tool for identifying areas of even actively degassing spotty anomalies caused by macro- and microscale brittle deformation masked by sediment cover.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…Low to moderate seismicity (ML<4.2) showed historical events exceeding ML>5.0. Geochemical soil gas anomalies indicate crustal degassing along faults [13,16,45].…”

Section: Location and Tectonic Settings Of Study Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparison of geogases in Cenozoic sedimentary environments

Berberich¹,

Berberich²

2022

Preprint

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“…The protection of RWA as keystone species, ecosystem engineers, and biocontrol agents in an integrally and sustainably managed forest (SFM) is only possibly if sufficient scientifically-based information on occurrence and spatial distribution is available. This requires not only censuses, e.g., of individual RWA nests but also multi-disciplinary integration of knowledge across forest ecosystem sciences, biological, spatial, temporal, behavioral and geo-tectonic scales [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]49]. A recent study showed the poor data situation for the different sessile RWA and their occurrence in forests of most European countries, including Germany, based on nest counts [50].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Re-inventories at two study sites in the Oberpfalz (Bavaria, Germany): Increase in RWA nests, herb biodiversity and dead wood in sustainably managed forests

Berberich,

Berberich

2024

Preprint

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The outstanding occurrences of red wood ant nests (RWA; Formica rufa-group) at two study sites in the Oberpfalz, NE Bavaria, Germany, could be confirmed by the 2023 re-inventory (a total of 5,393 nests and an increase by ≈8 %). RWA nests preferred mature and medium mature pine-dominated forests. Standing and downed dead wood do not negatively influence nests. Nest counts with woodpecker cavities and the diversity of the herb layer increased. The highly clustered nests in NW-SE direction suggests a strong interaction between nests distributions and the tectonic environment. Our developed (re-)inventory approach in combination with the comprehensive photo database is a valuable tool for a) monitoring the entire forest habitat including woodpecker cavities and dead wood in, at and around nests, and b) identifying GeoBio-Interactions. Such a comprehensive approach leads to more accurate and realistic counts of RWA nests during (re-)inventories and provides scientific evidence of the status quo of RWA occurrence. Our results disproved the unfounded and scientifically unsubstantiated blanket statement by laymen of the ASW Landesverband Bayern e.V. that RWA nest numbers in the Oberpfalz or even in the entire Bavaria are in sharp decline. We suggest seven to eight years as a suitable time interval for re-inventories.

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“…As do termites, 105 red wood ants produce CH 3 Cl, CHCl 3 , CCl 4 , and CHBr 3 . 106 For example, the average concentrations in the nests of Formica rufa and Formica polyctena are up to three-fold higher than the atmospheric background and as much as 70-fold higher than volcanic emissions, which are generally considered as one of the main geogenic sources of CHCl 3 . Bromoform was up to 20-fold higher than atmospheric background.…”

Section: Miscellaneousmentioning

confidence: 99%

Newly discovered naturally occurring organohalogens

Gribble¹

2018

Arkivoc

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Last year more than 200 naturally occurring organohalogens were described for the first time. These natural products were isolated and characterized from marine algae, sponges, corals, tunicates, bryozoans, marine and terrestrial fungi and bacteria, cyanobacteria, terrestrial plants, slime molds, red ants, and interstellar space. The following examples are illustrative of the extraordinary synthetic virtuosity of nature.

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Halogenation processes linked to red wood ant nests (Formica spp.) and tectonics

Cited by 9 publications

References 61 publications

Comparison of geogases in Cenozoic sedimentary environments

Comparison of geogases in Cenozoic sedimentary environments

Re-inventories at two study sites in the Oberpfalz (Bavaria, Germany): Increase in RWA nests, herb biodiversity and dead wood in sustainably managed forests

Newly discovered naturally occurring organohalogens

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