%0 Journal Article
%T First In Situ Identification of Ultradian and Infradian Rhythms, and Nocturnal Locomotion Activities of Four Colonies of Red Wood Ants (Formica rufa
%A Aaron M. Ellison
%A Arne Grumpe
%A Christian W£¿hler
%A Gabriele M. Berberich
%A Martin B. Berberich
%J Journal of Biological Rhythms
%@ 1552-4531
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/0748730418821446
%X In situ activity patterns of 2 Formica rufa-group species (F. pratensis; F. polyctena) were continuously studied at 4 different red wood-ant nests for 6 months in each of the years 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2016 and related to weather factors and variations in the Earth¡¯s magnetic field. The in situ activity patterns of both species were similarly periodic and exhibited ultradian, and short- and long infradian rhythms under natural LD conditions. Crepuscular and nocturnal activities shorter than or equal to 4 h were observed in both species, especially at the new moon and first quarter after the astronomical twilight in a period of darkness in fall. We hypothesize that local variability in the Earth¡¯s magnetic field affects these long-term activity patterns, whereas humidity and temperature were more strongly associated with ultradian rhythms (less than 20 h)
%K in situ investigation
%K infradian rhythm
%K locomotion
%K magnetic variations
%K red wood ants (F. polyctena
%K F. pratensis)
%K ultradian rhythm
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0748730418821446