Preliminary data on ecological succession of ant communities (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in mining areas. Case study: Roşia Montană mining area, Alba County, Romania

A study on the Roșia Montană Mining Landscape reveals significant insights into ecological succession, particularly focusing on ant communities (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in post-mining areas. The research identifies distinct patterns of diversity, abundance, and composition in ant communities across four exploitation areas with varying cessation times of mining activity, compared to a control area unaffected by mining. Ants, known for their pivotal role as generalist predators and seed-dispersers, were found to be among the first organisms to colonize denuded surfaces post-mining, contributing to secondary ecological succession. The study analyzed three dominant habitat types—tailings dump (H), open meadow (O), and forested area (W)—and evaluated seasonal variations in March, June, and October to capture species phenology. Habitat parameters such as exposure, slope, and altitude were also assessed to validate the successional chronosequence. This research highlights the resilience and adaptability of ant communities in disturbed ecosystems, offering valuable data on post-mining ecological recovery.

(Ed.). (2026). Preliminary data on ecological succession of ant communities (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in mining areas. Case study: Roşia Montană mining area, Alba County, Romania. Book of Abstracts - RAD 2026 Conference. https://doi.org/10.21175/rad.abstr.book.2026.4.4