Harvester ant nests, soil biota and soil chemistry |
| |
Authors: | Diane Wagner Mark J F Brown Deborah M Gordon |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA, US |
| |
Abstract: | Many ant species accumulate organic debris in the vicinity of their nests. These organic materials should provide a rich resource
base for the soil biota. We examined the effect of harvester ant nests (Pogonomyrmex barbatus) on the soil community and soil chemistry. Ant nest soils supported 30-fold higher densities of microarthropods and 5-fold
higher densities of protozoa than surrounding, control soils. The relative abundances of the major groups of protozoa differed
as well: amoebae and ciliates were relatively overrepresented, and flagellates underrepresented, in ant nest versus control
soils. Densities of bacteria and fungi were similar in the two soil types. Concentrations of nitrate, ammonium, phosphorus,
and potassium were significantly higher in ant nest soils, while concentrations of magnesium, calcium, and water were similar
in nest and control soils. Ant nest soils were marginally more acidic than controls. The results demonstrate that P. barbatus nests constitute a significant source of spatial heterogeneity in soil biota and soil chemistry in arid grasslands.
Received: 17 March 1997 / Accepted: 10 June 1997 |
| |
Keywords: | Formicidae Pogonomyrmex Soil Community Spatial heterogeneity |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|