Inter-specific aggression generates ant mosaics in canopies of primary tropical rainforest

The ant mosaic is a concept of the non-random spatial distribution of individual ant species in trees built upon the assumption of interspecific behavioural associations. However, colony identity and environmental variance may also play a role in species distribution. Here we assess the presence of ant mosaics in a primary forest ecosystem and whether they are structured by species' aggressive behaviours or by habitat filtering. We sampled arboreal ants from vertically stratified baits exposed in 225 canopy trees in a 9-ha plot of primary lowland forest in Papua New Guinea, the largest forest area surveyed to detect ant mosaics. We performed behavioural tests on conspecific ants from adjacent trees to determine the territories of individual colonies. We explored the environmental effects on the ant communities using information on the plot vegetation structure and topography. Furthermore, we created a novel statistical method to test for the community non-random spatial structure across the plot via spatial randomisation of individual colony territories. Finally, we linked spatial segregation among the four most common species to experimentally assessed rates of interspecies aggression. The ant communities comprised 57 species of highly variable abundance and vertical stratification. Ant community composition was spatially dependent, but it was not affected by tree species composition or canopy connectivity. Only local elevation had a significant but rather small effect. Individual colony territories ranged from one tree to 0.7 ha. Species were significantly over-dispersed, with their territory overlap significantly reduced. The level of aggression between pairs of the four most common species was positively correlated with their spatial segregation. Our study demonstrates the presence of ant mosaics in tropical pristine forest, which are maintained by interspecific aggression rather than habitat filtering, with vegetation structure having a rather small and indirect effect, probably linked to microclimate variability.publishedVersio

Collective and noncollective states in (120)Te

High-spin states in (120)Te were populated in the reaction (80)Se((48)Ca, alpha 4n)(120)Te at a beam energy of 207 MeV and gamma-ray coincidences were measured using the Gammasphere spectrometer. The previously known level scheme is extended to higher spin and new interband transitions and side-feeding branches are established. Five highly deformed rotational bands, extending up to almost I = 50, are observed for the first time. The bands are compared with similar structures found recently in neighboring nuclei. The experimental results are interpreted within the framework of the cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky model. Configuration assignments to several terminating states and to the high-spin bands are discussed

Core excitations beyond maximally aligned configurations in 123I

High-spin states in 123I have been populated in the 80Se(48Ca,p4n)123I reaction at 207 MeV and γ-ray coincidence events have been recorded with the Gammasphere spectrometer. The level scheme of 123I has been extended up to spin I=63/2. The nucleus undergoes a shape transition from moderately deformed states with collective rotation at low spins to noncollective oblate configurations at higher spins. Maximally aligned terminating states involving all nine particles outside the 114Sn core and states with one particle antialigned are identified. A large number of weak transitions feed the terminating states. Cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky calculations have been performed to determine possible configurations for the observed energy levels

Collective and noncollective states in 120Te

High-spin states in 120Te were populated in the reaction 80Se(48Ca, α4n)120Te at a beam energy of 207 MeV and γ-ray coincidences were measured using the Gammasphere spectrometer. The previously known level scheme is extended to higher spin and new interband transitions and side-feeding branches are established. Five highly deformed rotational bands, extending up to almost I=50, are observed for the first time. The bands are compared with similar structures found recently in neighboring nuclei. The experimental results are interpreted within the framework of the cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky model. Configuration assignments to several terminating states and to the high-spin bands are discussed

Revised level structure of Te 120

The level scheme of the nucleus Te120, populated in the reaction Se80(Ca48,α4n), was reinvestigated using γ-ray coincidence data measured with the Gammasphere spectrometer. Previously, five high-spin rotational bands were discovered in this nucleus. The present reinvestigation revealed that the decay of band b1 is more complex than suggested in the earlier work and that it cannot be uniquely determined. Furthermore, a number of new transitions are added to the level scheme. The implications for the spin assignments and excitation energies of the five bands and for comparisons with cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky calculations are discussed

High-spin rotational bands in 123I

High-spin states in 123I were populated in the reaction 80Se(48Ca,p4n)123I at a beam energy of 207 MeV and γ-ray coincidence events were measured using the Gammasphere spectrometer. Three weakly populated, high-spin rotational bands have been discovered with characteristics similar to those of the long collective bands recently observed in other nuclei of this mass region. Configuration assignments are proposed based on calculations within the framework of the cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky approach

Observation of high-spin bands with large moments of inertia in Xe 124

High-spin states in Xe124 have been populated using the Se80(Ca48,4n) reaction at a beam energy of 207 MeV and high-multiplicity, γ-ray coincidence events were measured using the Gammasphere spectrometer. Six high-spin bands with large moments of inertia, similar to those observed in neighboring nuclei, have been observed. The experimental results are compared with calculations within the framework of the cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky model. It is suggested that the configurations of the bands involve excitations of protons across the Z=50 shell gap coupled to neutrons within the N=50-82 shell or excited across the N=82 shell closure