Ant Poop Fertilization Improves Soil Fertility in Drylands
During ant poop fertilization, the ants leave their bodies to deposit a rich nutrient mix. The fecal matter is then excreted on the leaves. This process improves the soil and makes it more fertile.
Termites and ants improve soil fertility in drylands
Termites and ants improve soil fertility in drylands, according to a new study. These engineering insects are found in a number of countries around the world, and could be a valuable part of the ecosystem in dryland agriculture.
In the study, Princeton University researchers examined the impact of termite mounds on dryland survival and productivity. They found that termite mounds slow down desertification and improve dryland survival.
Termite mounds store moisture in drylands and provide a moist refuge for plants and animals. Termites also improve the composition of the soil, making it better able to retain water and nutrients.
Termites and ants also increase the amount of nitrogen that is available to plants, according to the study. This can improve wheat yield by 36%.
Termites and ants also improve soil water infiltration. They build tunnels that help to draw water deep into the soil. In turn, the tunnels allow water to reach plants.
Termites also mineralize the materials in their guts, which helps them to retain the nutrients they ingest. They also produce small quantities of feces, which they use as cement for their mounds.
Weaver ants excrete copious amounts of fecal matter on leaf surfaces
Besides being effective biological control agents, weaver ants have an indirect predation effect on parasitoids. They actively kill parasitoids and thereby reduce their population size. Weaver ants are eusocial insects that build elaborate nests in the canopy of tropical plants.
Weaver ants can have a detrimental effect on the fruit fly population, reducing their oviposition success. They also reduce the number of eggs laid by parasitoids, and decrease foraging activity.
Ant-hosting plants have been shown to be rich in nutrients, amino acids, and secondary phenylpropanoid metabolites. These nutrients are consumed by ants, and may be taken up by plants in ant territories. However, the role of fertilisation in these interactions has been neglected.
Indirect predation, which affects a larger number of individuals, can be just as detrimental as direct consumption. In this study, weaver ants were found to kill parasitoids and indirectly predate fruit flies. They were also observed actively killing a parasitoid female.
Weaver ants are important biological control agents in tropical forest ecosystems in sub-Saharan Africa. They can reduce fruit fly populations by 50% in some species.
Lasius niger ants fertilize in corners of nests
During the summer, Lasius niger ants build a nest on the surface of the ground and take to the air to mate. Their nests may be as big as 30,000 ants, and the queens may have multiple mating flights. They bury their food in piles outside their nests. These piles may be used by the ants as fertilizers. Alternatively, they may be used as construction materials.
Lasius niger queens usually create new nests on their own. However, researchers are interested in whether the workers carry brood to the nest.
Czaczkes and colleagues studied 21 small, lab-grown colonies of black garden ants. They photographed the ants once a week for two months. They observed dark patches in the nests, and found that the corners of specific chambers contained them. The patches were the same color as the colored sugar water that the ants were fed. The ants also visited the chambers frequently.
The researchers found that the nests contained one to four patches. The size of the patches varied, but they were mostly located in the corners.
Leafcutter ants fertilize with artificial coloring
Besides being known for their ability to grow fungus, leafcutter ants are also known for their ability to carry large chunks of foliage. These insects can strip up to 17% of the leaf biomass of plants in just one day.
Leafcutter ants live in tropical rainforests and are found in North and South America. They are considered agricultural pests in Central and South America.
These insects have been studied for centuries. In fact, Charles Darwin was struck by leafcutter ants‘ industriousness and communication skills. He visited Brazil’s tropical forests and was astonished by the abundance of these insects.
Leafcutter ants have been described as the most complex society in the universe. They are divided into castes and roles. They also have a beneficial relationship with crops and herds.
They feed on insect secretions during the summer. In return, they use vegetation as fertilizer. They carry their harvest back to their nests. They are usually reddish brown in color. They can grow up to eight million individuals in a colony.
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