Enhancement of soil nutrients around nest entrances of the funnel ant Aphaenogaster barbigula (Myrmicinae) in semi-arid eastern Australia

Abstract

The distribution of soil nutrients around nest entrances of the ant Aphaenogaster barbigula was studied in a semi-arid woodland in eastern Australia. The ants re-excavate their nest chambers after rainfall, trapping any litter which falls near the entrance, and blocking the passage of litter moving downslope by processes of overland flow. The entrapment of organic matter around nest entrances resulted in significantly higher levels of nitrogen, organic matter, and some cations compared with nest-free surfaces. Significant depth nest interactions suggest that these nutrients are being concentrated close to the surface.