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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #236096
Title: Effects of harvester ant (Messor spp.) activity on soil properties and microbial communities in a Negev Desert ecosystem

Author
item GINZBURG, O - BAR-ILAN UNIV
item WHITFORD, W - JORNADA EXPT. RANGE
item STEINBERGER, Y - BAR-ILAN UNIV

Submitted to: Biology and Fertility of Soils
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/3/2008
Publication Date: 12/1/2008
Citation: Ginzburg, O., Whitford, W.G., Steinberger, Y. 2008. Effect of harvester ant (Messor spp.) activity on soil properties and microbial communities in a Negev Desert ecosystem. Biology and Fertility of Soils. 45:165-173.

Interpretive Summary: Desert ecosystems are reliant on a number of below ground organisms to carry out important processes such as decomposition and seed dispersal. Though deserts are arid systems viewed as barren, they can actually be regions of significant biodiversity. For example, there are over 60 species of ants alone that are native to the Chihuahuan Desert of the U.S. This study examined the roles of harvester ants in deserts in Israel and Negev. The study documented the roles of harvester ants in affecting organic matter of soils, soil nitrogen, and the activities of other micro-organisms. Harvester ants are an important biological component of the proper functioning of this desert ecosystem.

Technical Abstract: Harvester ants (Messor spp.) function as an essential link between aboveground resources and belowground biota such as the microbial community. We examined changes in soil microbial biomass and functional diversity resulting from harvester ant (Messor spp.) activity in the Negev Desert, Israel. Abiotic and biotic soil parameters were recorded during two seasons – wet and dry – also representing food availability periods for the ants (low and high seed availability, respectively). Soil samples were collected monthly from the 0- to 10- and 10- to 20-cm soil layers: (1) near the nest entrance, (2) under chaff piles, and (3) at a 2-m radius from the nest entrance (control). Harvester ant activity increased the percentage of organic matter, total soluble nitrogen, and microbial activity in nest-modified soils in comparison to the control soils. Higher CO2 evolution was recorded in the low-seed season in ant nest soils than in the control soils. During the high-seed season, higher carbon dioxide evolution was recorded only at the nest entrance locations. There were no differences in microbial biomass between the low- and high-seed seasons, but highest microbial biomass was found under chaff in low-seed season and in nest soils in high-seed season. Microbial function diversity was higher in nest-modified soils than in the control soils. This study suggests that the effect of harvester ant nests on soil fertility is due to increased microbial biomass and microbial activity in ant nest-modified soils.