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Literature

In addition to published scientific papers, there is a considerable body of 'grey literature' on wood ants. To make this more accessible we have listed below unpublished papers, theses and advisory reports.

Narrow-headed ant (Formica exsecta)

Theses:

  • England, D. (1996) Formica exsecta on Chudleigh Knighton Heath. Report for BSC Hons. Exeter University.
  • Felber, K.M (1997) Habitat preference of the rare wood ant Formica exsecta in Abernethy Forest – summary. BSC (Hons) Thesis, Aberdeen University.
  • Gallagher, S. (2006) Habitat selection by Formica exsecta in the Scottish Highlands. BSc (Hons) thesis, University of Glasgow.
  • Hunter, D. P. (2000) Competitive interactions between the wood ants Formica exsecta Nylander and Formica aquilonia Yarrow (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). BSc (Hons) thesis, University of Aberdeen.
  • Johnstone, J. A. (1998) Quantification of threats to the rare narrow-headed ant (Formica exsecta) at Abernethy Forest. BSc (Hons) thesis, University of Aberdeen.
  • Jones, S. (2009) Distribution pattern and the effect of density on survival and resource capture in the narrow-headed ant, Formica exsecta Nyl. BSc (Hons) thesis, University of East Anglia.
  • Littlewood, N. (2001) Can a Habitat Suitability Model predict and explain the distribution of a rare invertebrate? Thesis, University of Aberdeen.

Advisory notes:

  • Carroll, S. (2009) Formica exsecta in Devon in 2008, a report for Hymettus.
  • Hughes, J. (1997) Review of the distribution of Formica exsecta Nylander in Scotland with a survey of sites with no recent records. Scottish Natural Heritage Research Survey and Monitoring Report. No 81.
  • National Trust for Scotland, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Forestry Commission (2007) The narrow-headed ant (Formica exsecta), could you identify one?
  • Perret, J. & Stradling, D. J. (1997) Population status and reproductive biology of the endangered British ant Formica exsecta in Devon. Unpublished report for Natural England.
  • Perret, J. & Stradling, D. J. (1998) Formica exsecta: population census and artificial colony established in Devon, 1998. Unpublished report for Natural England.
  • Perret, J. & Stradling, D. J. (1999) Formica exsecta: population census and artificial colony established in Devon, 1999. Unpublished report for Natural England.
  • Perret, J. & Stradling, D. J. (2000) Formica exsecta: population census and artificial colony established in Devon, 2000. Unpublished report for Natural England.
  • Perret, J. & Stradling, D. J. (2001) Formica exsecta: population census and artificial colony established in Devon, 2001. Unpublished report for Natural England.
  • Phillips, D. (1997) Brief notes on Formica exsecta meeting at Abernethy, Scotland on 27th May, 1997. Scottish Natural Heritage unpublished file note, 9th June 1997.
  • Ramel, G. J. L. (1994) The state of Formica exsecta on Chudleigh Knighton Heath from a survey between 1/06/1994 and 5/07/1994. Report to Devon Wildlife Trust.
  • Scottish Wildlife Trust (2001) The narrow-headed ant. Information, Conservation-Species, sheet 5.04.
  • Stockan, J. (2006) Foraging behaviour, ant competition and nest site selection in narrow-headed ants (Formica exsecta). Commissioned Report to National Trust for Scotland.
  • Stockan, J. & Dennis, P. (2005) Foraging behaviour and ant competition in narrow-headed ants (Formica exsecta). Commissioned Report to Natural Trust for Scotland.
  • Stradling, D. J. & Hoy, S. P. (1991) The ant Formica exsecta, an endangered British species: distribution, ecology and conservation. An unpublished report to World Wide Fund for Nature on Project 199/88.
  • Stradling, D.J. & Salm, N. (2002) Formica exsecta: Population census and artificial colony establishment in Devon, 2002. Unpublished report for Natural England, 23 pages.
  • Stradling, D. J. (2003). Formica exsecta: Population census in Devon 2003. Unpublished report for Natural England, 17 pages.
  • Stradling, D. J. (2003) Survey for the narrow-headed ant (Formica exsecta) at the A38/B3344 and A38/A382 junctions, Devon. August/September 2003. Unpublished report to Parsons Brinckerhoff for the Highways Agency. 18 pages.
  • Stradling, D. J. (2004) Formica exsecta: Population census in Devon 2004. Unpublished report for Natural England, 24 pages.
  • Stradling, D. J. (2005) Formica exsecta: Population census in Devon 2005. Unpublished report for Natural England, 24 pages.
  • Stradling, D. J. (2005) Survey for the narrow-headed ant (Formica exsecta) at the A38/B3344 and A38/A382 junctions, Devon. August/September 2005. Unpublished report to Parsons Brinckerhoff for the Highways Agency. 23 pages.
  • Tuddenham, A. (1999) Chudleigh Knighton Heath 4th Management Plan 01/04/1999 – 31/03/2004. Unpublished report for Devon Wildlife Trust.

Other

  • Brown, M & Judge, R. (2007) Report: Preliminary investigation into mating patterns and nests structure in Formica exsecta in the UK using microsatellite markers. Unpublished.
  • Brown, M & Judge, R. (2007) Report: Preliminary investigation into mating patterns and nests structure in Formica exsecta in the UK using microsatellite markers. Unpublished.
  • James, P. (2008) Baseline data gathering for monitoring Formica exsecta in the designated Conservation Zone Glenmore Forest: A brief account of the methodology and summary findings of fieldwork carried out in August and September 2009. Unpublished.
  • Rao, S. (2007) Determining the habitat requirements for the narrow headed ant in Deeside to inform conservation management: Report of findings for key partners and woodland managers. Unpublished.
  • Young, M. R. (1997) Notes on discussion meeting on the ecology and conservation of Formica exsecta at Abernethy Forest. Unpublished file note held by J. Hughes.

 

 Scottish wood ant (Formica aquilonia), hairy wood ant (Formica lugubris)

Theses:

  • Johnstone, J. A. (2002) Spatiotemporal patterns of foraging in the Scottish wood ant, Formica aquilonia, within natural pinewood. MSc thesis, Napier University.

Advisory notes:

  • Hughes, J. (1997) The status of Formica lugubris Zett. And Formica aquilonia Yarrow (Hym: Formicidae) in Ross-shire and Sutherland. Unpublished report to Scottish Natural Heritage and Scottish Wildlife Trust.

 

Red wood ant (Formica rufa)

Advisory notes:

  • Fowles, A. P. (1994) A review of the ecology of the red wood ant Formica rufa L. (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) and its status in Wales. Conservation Ecology in Wales 1. Countryside Council for Wales.

 

Slave-making/red blooded ant (Formica sanguinea)

Thesis:

  • Rai, S. (2014) The nesting preference of slavemaking ants, Formica sanguinea and their mode of dispersal in North-east Scotland. Hons Thesis, University of Aberdeen.

 

Non species-specific

Theses:

  • Dures, S. G. (2004) The use of GIS to predict suitable habitat for wood ant colonies in Glen Affric, Scotland. BSc Dissertation. University of Edinburgh.
  • Sacré, V. M. (1999) Spatial relationships in a wood ant community at Glenmore Forest Reserve. BSc (Hons) thesis, University of Aberdeen.

Advisory notes: