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The Role of the Western Harvester Ant (Pogonomyrmex occidentalis) in Soil Formation
Author(s) -
Mandel Rolfe D.,
Sorenson Curtis J.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1982.03615995004600040024x
Subject(s) - revegetation , soil water , environmental science , ecology , nutrient , agronomy , biology , soil science , ecological succession
The effects of harvester ants ( Pogonomyrmex occidentalis ) on the physical and chemical properties of soils were determined for 20 ant mounds in the semiarid subalpine region of south‐central Colorado. Comparisons of soil materials in mounds of active colonies with surrounding unaffected soils showed significant differences in particlesize distribution and concentrations of CaCO 3 , exchangeable K, Na, Mg, and total N. The activity of ants in the study area appears to affect less ground surface area than in more humid regions (1 to 10% of respective land areas by regional comparison). The ants also tend to rearrange particles preferentially in the sand fraction instead of in the finer fractions as recorded for more humid regions. However, their role in nutrient enrichment of mound soils is similar to that of different ant species in other regions. The soil alterations induced by P. occidentialis are favorable for plant growth, and the ant mounds may aid revegetation in disturbed areas.