Emil Andersson

My licentiate project consists of two studies related to ants, specifically the red wood ants (Formica rufa group), and Swedish forestry.

Red wood ants (RWA) are characteristic species in Swedish coniferous forests, and their mounds are also home to many other types of arthropods, while serving as an important food source for woodpeckers, among others. Therefore, they can be considered keystone species. Despite this, we currently know relatively little about the conditions and trends for the development of ant populations or the effectiveness of measures to conserve them.

In one project, I am identifying red wood ants collected during the national forest inventory (NFI) from 2021 to 2023. I will compare how various environmental factors recorded in the NFI correlate with the presence of RWA in general and whether there are differences between different species.

In the second project, I will examine the composition of ant fauna in newly established stands of fast-growing deciduous trees, with a particular focus on whether RWA colonize these stands.

In addition to the licentiate projects, I also have another project that deals with the survival of RWA after final felling. Here, I am investigating whether the survival of ant colonies improves if the remaining consideration trees are concentrated around the mound.

I did my master's thesis on the communication and navigation skills of the red wood ant species Formica polyctena at the Center for Social Evolution at the University of Copenhagen.

Papers and theses

·         Orientation and tactile communication in the red wood ant Formica polyctena. 2020. University of Copenhagen. Master’s thesis.

·         Janssen, R., Andersson, E., Betnér, E. et al. Embryonic expression patterns and phylogenetic analysis of panarthropod sox genes: insight into nervous system development, segmentation and gonadogenesis. BMC Evol Biol 18, 88 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-018-1196-z

·         En myra som inte finns? Problem med de biologiska begreppen art, liv, och kön. 2017 Uppsala universitet. Bachelor’s thesis.

Awards
·         Nordic Oikos 2024 Conference - ECR poster award - First place.

Conference talks and posters
·         Andersson E. et al. Do short-rotation fast-growing broadleaf stands provide good habitats for forest ants? Talk. 9th Central European Workshop of Myrmecology 8-11 September 2024.

·         Andersson, E. et al. Red wood ant (Formica rufa group) survival in clearcuts can be increased by concentrating retention trees to an area surrounding the ant mounds. Poster. IUFRO World Conference 23-29 June 2024.

·         Andersson, E. et al. Using NFI data on mound occurrence and forest variables to evaluate how forest management practices have impacted red wood ants (Formica rufa group). Poster. IUFRO World Conference 23-29 June 2024.

·         Andersson, E. Ants in old and new managed forests: risks and opportunities for biodiversity. Poster. Nordic Oikos Conference 12-15 March 2024.

·         Andersson, E. Links between red wood ant (Formica rufa-group) mound densities and past/present forest management in Sweden. Talk. IBFRA conference 28-31 August 2023.