Can the black bog ant (Formica picea Nyl.) survive in the Bieszczady National Park (SE Poland)

Abstract

In the peat bogs of the Bieszczady National Park an inventory of the Black bog ant (Formica picea Nyl.) was made in order to get an impression of the probability of its survival in SE Poland. Three habitat networks are distinguished, which are situated too far from each other for (re)colonization by means of flying queens. The largest network includes five peat bogs. In two of them F. picea was found. The species was not found in peat bogs which belong to the other habitat networks. The quality of the peat bogs depends on management strategies, currently challenged by two main threats: desiccation and the influx of nutrients. This process will speed up the succession of the vegetation. As a result dwarf shrubs are encroaching on habitat areas of F. picea, where Sphagnum species are still dominating in the moss laye