The effects of ant nests on soil fertility and plant performance: a meta‐analysis

Farji‐Brener, Alejandro G.; Werenkraut, Victoria

doi:10.1111/1365-2656.12672

Cited by 110 publications

(98 citation statements)

References 172 publications

(165 reference statements)

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“…Recent studies and reviews (Farji‐Brener & Tadey, ; Farji‐Brener & Werenkraut, ,; Meyer, Leal, Tabarelli, & Wirth, ; Meyer et al, ; Moutinho, Nepstad, & Davidson, ) have described the effect of leaf‐cutter ants on soil physical and chemical characteristics and plant community composition. These studies were carried out in different ecosystems and on different leaf‐cutter ant species, but they collectively suggest that leaf‐cutter ants have a disproportionately large influence on ecosystem processes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Welcome to the Atta world: A framework for understanding the effects of leaf‐cutter ants on ecosystem functions

et al. 2019

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Leaf‐cutter ants are a prominent feature in Neotropical ecosystems, but a comprehensive assessment of their effects on ecosystem functions is lacking. We reviewed the literature and used our own recent findings to identify knowledge gaps and develop a framework to quantify the effects of leaf‐cutter ants on ecosystem processes. Leaf‐cutter ants disturb the soil structure during nest excavation changing soil aeration and temperature. They mix relatively nutrient‐poor soil from deeper layers with the upper organic‐rich layers increasing the heterogeneity of carbon and nutrients within nest soils. Leaf‐cutter ants account for about 25% of all herbivory in Neotropical forest ecosystems, moving 10%–15% of leaves in their foraging range to their nests. Fungal symbionts transform the fresh, nutrient‐rich vegetative material to produce hyphal nodules to feed the ants. Organic material from roots and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhances carbon and nutrient turnover in nest soils and creates biogeochemical hot spots. Breakdown of organic matter, microbial and ant respiration, and nest waste material decomposition result in increased CO2, CH4, and N2O production, but the build‐up of gases and heat within the nest is mitigated by the tunnel network ventilation system. Nest ventilation dynamics are challenging to measure without bias, and improved sensor systems would likely solve this problem. Canopy gaps above leaf‐cutter ant nests change the light, wind and temperature regimes, which affects ecosystem processes. Nests differ in density and size depending on colony age, forest type and disturbance level and change over time resulting in spatial and temporal changes of ecosystem processes. These characteristics remain a challenge to evaluate rapidly and non‐destructively. Addressing the knowledge gaps identified in this synthesis will bring insights into physical and biological processes driving biogeochemical cycles at the nest and ecosystem scale and will improve our understanding of ecosystem biogeochemical heterogeneity and larger scale ecological phenomena. A plain language summary is available for this article.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Welcome to the Atta world: A framework for understanding the effects of leaf‐cutter ants on ecosystem functions

et al. 2019

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“…P.H. Seeds that reach the nest are generally discarded after elaiosome consumption (Gómez et al, 2005) either inside the nest, which does not favour germination (Leal et al, 2014), or close to the nest entrance, which usually favours germination (Giladi, 2006;Leal et al, 2007;Farji-Brener & Werenkraut, 2017). E-mail: ricardo.campos@ufv.br (Gorb & Gorb, 2003;Lengyel et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although ants normally remove seeds to their nests for elaiosome consumption, some loss along foraging trails may occur (Detrain & Tasse, 2000;Retana et al, 2004;Leal et al, 2014), favouring germination through decreased competition with the parental plant (Handel, 1976). Seeds that reach the nest are generally discarded after elaiosome consumption (Gómez et al, 2005) either inside the nest, which does not favour germination (Leal et al, 2014), or close to the nest entrance, which usually favours germination (Giladi, 2006;Leal et al, 2007;Farji-Brener & Werenkraut, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seed manipulation by ants: disentangling the effects of ant behaviours on seed germination

Fernandes

Paolucci

Carmo

et al. 2018

Ecological Entomology

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1. Seed manipulation by ants can play a key role in seed germination through two main behaviours: elaiosome detachment and seed scarification. Despite the fact that these behaviours are commonplace, their effects have only been quantified independently, and their consequences on seed germination remain controversial.2. Here we experimentally investigate the effects of ant manipulation on seed germination, disentangling the contributions of these two ant behaviours to this process. To do so, under laboratory conditions, we studied the effects of seed manipulation by Acromyrmex subterraneus on germination of seeds from Mabea fistulifera, a myrmecochorous plant. We established six experimental treatments: (i) unmanipulated seeds; (ii) ant-manipulated seeds with the elaiosome detached and scarified; (iii) ant-manipulated seeds with the elaiosome detached and non-scarified; (iv) hand-manipulated seeds with the elaiosome remaining and scarified; (v) hand-manipulated seeds with the elaiosome detached and scarified; and (vi) hand-manipulated seeds with elaiosome detached and non-scarified.3. We found that both elaiosome detachment and seed scarification decreased seed germination rates. Moreover, there was no difference in germination rates whether the seeds were manipulated by researcher's hand or by ants, suggesting a lack of other ant-manipulation effects on seeds.4. The present study shows that manipulation by A. subterraneus can exert negative effects on germination of a myrmecochorous seed. Accordingly, we suggested that studies evaluating the benefits of myrmecochory for plants, based only on seed removal amount and distance, may be overestimating those benefits. Our results contribute to the understanding of the potential mechanisms influencing plant recruitment, especially for myrmecochorous plants inhabiting tropical forests.

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“…Estos cambios afectarían procesos asociados como disminución en la germinación y presencia de plántulas, menor riqueza de especies y densidad de plantas (Carson & Peterson, 1990;Jensen & Meyer, 2001). Sin embargo, dada la complejidad de los sistemas naturales, y del rol que juegan las hormigas cortadoras en los procesos ecosistémicos (Farji-Brener et al, 2017), son necesarios estudios a una escala de tiempo mayor.…”

Section: Materiales Y Métodosunclassified

“…En estos ambientes, las hormigas cortadoras de hojas tendrían un rol clave en el proceso de descomposición (Farji-Brener & Werenkraut, 2017) debido a su capacidad para generar y concentrar grandes cantidades de desechos orgánicos e incrementar el N mineral y otros nutrientes del suelo (Rico-Gray & Oliveira, 2007;Bottinelli et al, 2015;Li et al, 2017). La contribución de materia orgánica de las hormigas cortadoras de hojas es de vital importancia en sitios donde la abundancia y la diversidad de materia orgánica es limitante, como en los sistemas desérticos (Farji-Brener, 2010).…”

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Efecto de los nidos de Acromyrmex lobicornis (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) sobre la descomposición de hojarasca, en el desierto del Monte

Romero¹,

Moratta²,

Zuliani³

2018

Bol. Soc. Argent. Bot.

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Effect of the nests of Acromyrmex lobicornis (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) on the decomposition of litter, in the "Monte" desert. Decomposition is a fundamental process of ecosystems. In arid and semiarid environments these processes slow down due to unfavorable climatic conditions for microbial activity so that organisms such as ants become key because in their nests they accumulate organic matter as a result of their foraging activities. Our objective was to evaluate the influence of the nests of Acromyrmex lobicornis on the decomposition process of the surrounding material. We buried 42 bags of litter in seven shrubs with nest and seven shrubs without nest (three bags per bush). At 21, 35 and 55 days, the bags were removed, cleaned, weighed, dried and calcined. The rate of decomposition in nests of A. lobicornis was significantly lower than that of soils without anthills. The marked seasonality in the desert of Monte and the sterilization of the nest could be some of the causes.Resumen: La descomposición es un proceso fundamental de los ecosistemas. En ambientes áridos y semiáridos, estos procesos se ralentizan debido a las condiciones climáticas desfavorables para la actividad microbiana, por lo que, organismos como las hormigas se vuelven claves ya que en sus nidos acumulan materia orgánica como consecuencia de su actividad de forrajeo. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar la influencia de los nidos de Acromyrmex lobicornis sobre el proceso de descomposición del material circundante. Se enterraron 42 bolsas de hojarasca en 7 arbustos con y sin hormiguero (tres bolsas por arbusto). A los 21, 35 y 55 días, las bolsas fueron retiradas, limpiadas, pesadas, secadas y calcinadas. La tasa de descomposición en nidos de A. lobicornis fue significativamente menor con respecto a la de suelos sin hormigueros. La marcada estacionalidad en el desierto del monte y la esterilización del nido podrían ser algunos de los causantes.

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The effects of ant nests on soil fertility and plant performance: a meta‐analysis

Cited by 110 publications

References 172 publications

Welcome to the Atta world: A framework for understanding the effects of leaf‐cutter ants on ecosystem functions

Welcome to the Atta world: A framework for understanding the effects of leaf‐cutter ants on ecosystem functions

Seed manipulation by ants: disentangling the effects of ant behaviours on seed germination

Efecto de los nidos de Acromyrmex lobicornis (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) sobre la descomposición de hojarasca, en el desierto del Monte

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