Small‐scale observation on the effects of burrowing activities of ants on soil hydraulic processes

Abstract

Summary Ants alter soil structure when making their nests and the fresh soil aggregates brought to the surface become available for erosion. However, the effects of burrowing activities of ants on soil hydrological processes are unclear. In this study, the effects of Tetramorium caespitum, Messor aciculatus and Camponotus japonicus nests on the preferential flow and soil surface hydrologic processes at a small scale were assessed on the Loess Plateau. Soil dyeing and rainfall simulation experiments were conducted to quantify the effects of ants' nests on runoff and water infiltration on slopes. The diameters of nest entrances for T. caespitum, M. aciculatus and C. japonicus were 0.19, 0.33 and 0.56 cm, respectively. The nests of M. aciculatus and C. japonicus promoted water infiltration, resulted in large soil water contents and decreased surface runoff. The turret‐like mounds around the nest entrances made by T. caespitum prevented the formation of soil preferential flow. The depths of dyeing in the soil with M. aciculatus and C. japonicus nests were 32.6 and 49.2 cm, respectively, which were significantly (P < 0.05) deeper than those in the soil with T. caespitum nests (10.0 cm) and no nest (10.3 cm). The unstable soil aggregates made by ants on the soil surface break down easily and encourage the loss of soil sediment. The results show that increasing the ant colonies, especially those with larger bodies, could be considered a strategy to increase water infiltration and soil water content in semiarid areas. In the meantime, the sediment loss cannot be neglected. Highlights This study evaluated the effects of hypogeal ants on soil erosion. The turret‐like mounds of T. caespitum prevent the formation of preferential flow. Ants with larger bodies made bigger nest entrances and resulted in more infiltration. The burrowing activities of ants exacerbate soil erosion.

Time-Of-Flight monitoring reveals higher sediment redistribution rates related to burrowing animals than previously assumed

“…Previous studies estimated both positive as well as negative impacts of burrowing animals on sediment redistribution rates. The results were obtained by applying tests under laboratory conditions using rainfall simulators, conducting several field campaigns weeks to months apart, or by measuring the volume of excavated or eroded sediment in the field using methods such as erosion pins, splash boards, or simple rulers (Imeson and Kwaad, 1976;Reichman and Seabloom, 2002;Wei et al, 2007;Le Hir et al, 2007;Li et al, 2018;Li et al, 2019c;Li et al, 2019b;Voiculescu et al, 2019;Chen et al, 2021;Übernickel et al, 2021b;Li et al, 2019a). Although burrowing animals are generally seen as ecosystem engineers (Gabet et al, 2003;Wilkinson et al, 2009), their role in soil erosion, in general, and for numerical soil erosion models, in particular, is, to date, limited to predictions of the burrow locations and particle mixing at these locations (Black and Montgomery, 1991;Meysman et al, 2003;Yoo et al, 2005;Schiffers et al, 2011).…”

Earthworm (Metaphire guillelmi) activities increase the risk of soil erosion – a simulation experiment

“…In this study, all earthworms (mean weight of 4.4 AE 0.8 g) drilled into the soil within half an hour, and left at least 150 burrows with entrances of approximately 5 mm in diameter on the soil surface (Figure 5c). Li et al (2019b) studied the effects of ant burrows on soil hydrological processes and found that nests of Messor aciculatus (nest entrance diameter of 0.33 cm)…”

Insects as zoogeomorphic agents: an extended review

“…Experimental study of the effects of termites and ants on soil infiltration rates has been investigated by many authors in a wide variety of environmental and topographic settings (e.g. Elkins et al ., 1986; Eldridge, 1993, 1994; Mando et al ., 1996; Wang et al ., 1996; Cammeraat et al ., 2002; Leonard et al ., 2004; James et al ., 2008; Cheik et al ., 2018; Li et al ., 2019b). Most of these studies have demonstrated that soil infiltration rates and porosity were significantly higher on termite‐ or ant‐modified soils than on non‐nest soils.…”