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Halogenation processes linked to red wood ant nests (Formica spp.) and tectonics

Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry volume 74, pages 261–281 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

We investigated and evaluated the occurrence of fault zone tracer gases (CO2, He, Rn), volatile organohalogens (CH3Cl, CHCl3, CHBr3), alkanes and limonene in soil and nest gases of red wood ants (RWA) in comparison to ambient air, in a seismically active area. In this new approach, we compared RWA-free areas to RWA-areas by combining different investigation and analytical methods. In soil gas, the fault zone tracer gas Rn was surprisingly highly correlated to limonene, suggesting a combination of biotic production of limonene and abiotic degassing of Rn in a seismically active area; moderate correlations were found with trihalomethanes and other halocarbons. In RWA nests a variety of elevated concentrations of haloforms were found, while remaining below the atmospheric background values in RWA-free areas. The evidence of CHCl3 in RWA nests is the first record. Its average concentrations in nests of F. rufa and F. polyctena were up to 3 fold higher than atmospheric background and up to 28–70 fold higher compared to e.g. volcanic emissions being considered as one of its main geogenic sources. Thus, RWA nests could possibly be an additional source for CHCl3 liberation. Consequently, apart from RWA being bioindicators for seismically active degassing faults, they might also be used as bioindicators for CHCl3 formation in forest soils. Although we cannot yet differentiate between a geogenic/abiotic and a biotic formation. RWA nests will have to be reconsidered for halocarbon formation in future quantifications of geochemical cycles at global scale, since they impact organic soil chemistry through biotic and/or abiotic pathways. Therefore, further larger-scale research in different tectonic settings but also in well-known CHCl3 “hot spot” study areas such as the Klosterhede area (Denmark) should focus directly on gas sampling from confirmed active fault systems. Nests of other ant species should be addressed to compare seasonal, diurnal and nocturnal variations of degassing procedures in relation to earth tides, different geologic settings, and tectonic events such as earthquakes and on quantifying the fluxes to the atmosphere.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Anke Jakob, Jan Hartmann, Fritz and Stefan Laukenmann, Thomas Ewert, Mark Schumann, Chris Schneider,  and Erich Müller for their valuable support in taking soil and nest gas samples.

The 72 h-gas monitoring was funded by the Research Department of University of Heidelberg. TS and HFS are grateful for the financial support of the German Science Foundation (DFG Research Unit 763, HaloProc).

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  1. Faculty of Biology, Department of Geology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, D-45141, Essen, Germany

    Gabriele M. Berberich

  2. Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 234-236, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Tobias Sattler, Simon A. Benk, Daniela Polag & Heinz Friedrich Schöler

  3. Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Biometry and Environmental System Analysis, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Str. 4, D-79085, Freiburg, Germany

    Dietrich Klimetzek

  4. IT-Consulting Berberich, Am Plexer 7, 50374, Erftstadt, Germany

    Martin B. Berberich

  5. University of Miami, RSMAS/MAC, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL, 33149, USA

    Elliot Atlas

Authors
  1. Gabriele M. Berberich
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  2. Tobias Sattler
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  3. Dietrich Klimetzek
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  4. Simon A. Benk
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  5. Martin B. Berberich
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  6. Daniela Polag
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  7. Heinz Friedrich Schöler
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  8. Elliot Atlas
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gabriele M. Berberich.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. Procedures did not imply significant disturbance of ants and were all in in accordance with relevant German Federal and State (BW) animal welfare legislation.

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Berberich, G.M., Sattler, T., Klimetzek, D. et al. Halogenation processes linked to red wood ant nests (Formica spp.) and tectonics. J Atmos Chem 74, 261–281 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10874-016-9358-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10874-016-9358-0

Keywords

  • Organohalogens
  • Red wood ants
  • CHCl3
  • H2O2
  • Soil gas
  • Seismically active area
  • Fault zone tracer gas