SPECIES COMPOSITION AND BIOECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ANTS IN THE KHOREZM OASIS

Abstract

The ant fauna of the Khorezm Oasis comprises eurybiontic, desert, and synanthropic species adapted to the region's extreme continental climate. The species composition is primarily represented by the genera Messor, Camponotus, Cataglyphis, Lasius, and Tapinoma, whose bioecological characteristics enable them to survive under conditions of hot, dry summers and cold winters. Ants construct complex underground passage systems and contribute to soil mixing and enrichment with humus, nitrogen, and phosphorus, which is particularly important for the irrigated agricultural lands of Khorezm. Ants construct nests in soil, beneath stones, and inside or on decaying tree trunks, particularly species associated with woody substrates. Some species construct nests from dry branches, forming cone-shaped structures that extend above the soil surface. Underground nests may contain highly complex, multi-chambered systems. In some forest-dwelling ants, nests consist of an underground labyrinth and an above-ground dome, with branched passages extending to depths of 1–3 m, where the colonies overwinter. Ants feed on a wide variety of insects, plant seeds, flower nectar, and honeydew produced by aphids and scale insects. Many species maintain food resources, including insects and fungi, within or around their nests. Certain ant species, such as forest ants, provide ecological benefits by reducing populations of pest insects. The present study characterizes the species composition and major bioecological groups of ants occurring in the Khorezm Oasis and discusses their ecological significance under arid and intensively cultivated environmental conditions.