predators.Thestudy,published in the Journal of Animal Ecology,found that ants have twodistinct effects on their local environment.
Firstly,throughmoving of soil by nest building activity and by collecting food they affect thelevel of nutrients in the soil.This can indirectly impact the local populationsof
many animal groups,from decomposers to species much higher up the food chain.
Secondly,they preyon a wide range of other animals,including larger prey which can be at-tackedby vast numbers of ant workers.
Dirk Sanders,anauthor of the study from the university's Centre for Ecology and Conservation,saiD."Ants are very effective predators which thrive in hugenumbers.They're
also veryterritorial and very aggressive,defending their resources and territory againstother predators.All of this means they have a strong influence on theirsurrounding
area."
"In thisresearch,we studied for the first time how big this impact is and thesubtleties of it. What we found is that despite being predators,their presencecan also lead to an
increase in densityand diversity of other animal groups.They genuinely play a key role in thelocal environment,haying a big influence on the grassland foodweb,"Sanders
said.
The study,carriedout in
can be found acrossEurone.including in the UK.It found that a low density of ants in an area increasedthe diversity and density of other animals in the local area,particularly
the density ofherbivores and decomposers.At higher densities ants had no or the oppositeeffect,showing that predation is counteracting the positive influence.
Dr Frank vanVeen,another author on the study,saiD."What we find is that the impact ofants on soil nutrient levels has a positive effect on animal groups at lowlevels,but as
the number of antsincreases,their predatory impacts have the bigger effect一thereby counteracting the positiveinfluence via ecosystem engineering."
Ants are importantcomponents of ecosystems not only because they constitute a great part of theanimal biomass but also because they act as ecosystem engineers.Ant
biodiversity isincredibly high and these organisms are highly responsive to human impact,whichobviously reduces its richness. However,it is not clear how such disturbance
damages themaintenance of ant services to the ecosystem.Ants are important in below groundprocesses through the alteration of the physical and chemical environment and
through theireffects on plants,microorganisms,and other soil organisms.
Why are antscompared to ecosystem engineers?
A.Because they buildtheir own nests.
B.Because they collectfood.
C.Because theiractivity affects the environment.
D.Because they arepredators.
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