The impact of urban warfare on the structure of ant assemblages on trees (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Military actions cause great harm to the environment, as well as to biocenoses. The life cycle of the colony and the activity of some species of ants is associated with trees. The purpose of the study is to analyze the relationship between the degree of damage to tree plantations and changes in the structure of ant communities as a result of hostilities. The study was conducted in August 2022 on the territory of the cities of Irpin and Bucha (Kyiv region, Ukraine), six months after the Russian attack on Ukraine (02/24/2022). Intense fighting took place in Irpin and Bucha from the end of February until April 2022. The degree of destruction of the infrastructure of Bucha was 26%, of Irpin 71%. In total, 200 trees were examined in Bucha and 201 in Irpin. 11 species of ants were found on 12 tree species. The examined trees were divided into 5 classes according to the degree of damage. The higher the damage class of a tree, the smaller the number of trees of this class. Therefore, damage to large and mature trees as a result of fighting more significantly affects ant communities. The results obtained indicate that the ants prefer to visit larger trees of certain species (oaks), but with a degree of damage up to 3rd. The hostilities can have a negative effect on ant communities within the next five months after they leave their wintering grounds.