ADAPTATION MECHANISMS OF THE FOREST ANT FORMICA RUFA TO ABIOOTIC STRESSES AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE FOR HUMAN HEALTH AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/naturaljournal.13.2025.7Keywords:
adaptation mechanisms, abiotic stresses, Formica rufa, bioindication, ecological plasticity, behavioral responses, sustainable developmentAbstract
Adaptation mechanisms of animals to abiotic stressors are important for understanding their survival and functioning in changing environmental conditions, especially against the background of anthropogenic environmental changes. The forest ant Formica rufa is a model species for studying the adaptation of insects to temperature, water, and light stresses and is used as a bioindicator of the ecological status of forest ecosystems. The aim of the study was to comprehensively investigate the adaptive responses of Formica rufa to the main abiotic stresses and to assess their importance for the sustainable development of the human environment.The methods of field observations, bioindication, morphometry, physiological and biochemical analysis, as well as experimental modeling of stress conditions were used in the study. Behavioral, morphological and physiological changes in insects in response to variations in temperature, humidity and light were assessed.The results indicate that Formica rufa has a wide range of adaptive mechanisms that ensure the maintenance of homeostasis and vital activity within optimal environmental parameters. The most sensitive factor was water stress, which disrupts the social structure of the colony. The data obtained expand knowledge about the ecological plasticity of the species and emphasize its importance as a bioindicator for monitoring the state of natural and anthropogenically transformed environments.The scientific novelty lies in an integrated approach to studying the adaptive responses of Formica rufa to three major abiotic stresses using experimental and field methods. The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of applying the results to the development of environmental monitoring systems and planning of measures for sustainable management of natural resources, which positively affects human health and quality of life.
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