Effects of ant bioturbation and foraging activities on soil mechanical properties and stability

Zhou, W; Zhan, P; Zeng, M; Chen, T; Zhang, X; Yang, G; Guo, Y

Effects of ant bioturbation and foraging activities on soil mechanical properties and stability

Zhou, W Zhan, P Zeng, M Chen, T Zhang, X Yang, G Guo, Y

Permalink

Publisher:: Elsevier
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Global Ecology and Conservation, 2023, 46, pp. e02575
Issue Date:: 2023-10-01

Open Access

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Open Access

This item is open access.

Adobe PDF

Download Published versionAdobe PDF (2.38 MB)

View on publisher's site

View statistics

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Zhou, W
dc.contributor.author	Zhan, P
dc.contributor.author	Zeng, M
dc.contributor.author	Chen, T
dc.contributor.author	Zhang, X
dc.contributor.author	Yang, G
dc.contributor.author	Guo, Y
dc.date.accessioned	2024-04-23T20:07:44Z
dc.date.available	2024-04-23T20:07:44Z
dc.date.issued	2023-10-01
dc.identifier.citation	Global Ecology and Conservation, 2023, 46, pp. e02575
dc.identifier.issn	2351-9894
dc.identifier.issn	2351-9894
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/178302
dc.description.abstract	Ants are ecosystem engineers, and their nesting and foraging activities are critical to modifying soil structure. In this paper, the soil physical and mechanical properties of in situ subterranean ant nesting soil and non-ant nesting soil around the nest of the Iridomyrmex anceps were investigated so as to evaluate the effects of activities such as nest building and foraging on soil hydrologic and stability. The results showed that ant activity increased the content of organic matter, total nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil, and decreased soil pH. The activities of ants altered the soil structure. The density, specific gravity and saturation of subsurface ant nesting soil and non-ant nesting soil showed highly significant differences, while the moisture content, dry density, pore ratio and porosity showed significant differences. The soil mechanical property tests results showed that the ant activity increased the compressibility of the soil. The ant activity reduces the resistance of soil against relative movement under the action of external force, as well as the strength of soil against axial pressure under the condition of no lateral restraint, whereas the residual strength is increased. Under low confining pressure conditions, ant presence had no significant effect on the ultimate strength of soil. However, the ultimate strength of ant nest soil was significantly lower than that of non-ant nest soil under condition of high confining pressure. These findings unveil that ant activities positively affect the energy cycle and species diversity in ecosystems but significantly reduce soil mechanical properties and stability.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Elsevier
dc.relation.ispartof	Global Ecology and Conservation
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02575
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	0502 Environmental Science and Management, 0602 Ecology
dc.subject.classification	3103 Ecology
dc.subject.classification	4104 Environmental management
dc.title	Effects of ant bioturbation and foraging activities on soil mechanical properties and stability
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	46
utslib.for	0502 Environmental Science and Management
utslib.for	0602 Ecology
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2024-04-23T20:07:42Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	46

Abstract:

Ants are ecosystem engineers, and their nesting and foraging activities are critical to modifying soil structure. In this paper, the soil physical and mechanical properties of in situ subterranean ant nesting soil and non-ant nesting soil around the nest of the Iridomyrmex anceps were investigated so as to evaluate the effects of activities such as nest building and foraging on soil hydrologic and stability. The results showed that ant activity increased the content of organic matter, total nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil, and decreased soil pH. The activities of ants altered the soil structure. The density, specific gravity and saturation of subsurface ant nesting soil and non-ant nesting soil showed highly significant differences, while the moisture content, dry density, pore ratio and porosity showed significant differences. The soil mechanical property tests results showed that the ant activity increased the compressibility of the soil. The ant activity reduces the resistance of soil against relative movement under the action of external force, as well as the strength of soil against axial pressure under the condition of no lateral restraint, whereas the residual strength is increased. Under low confining pressure conditions, ant presence had no significant effect on the ultimate strength of soil. However, the ultimate strength of ant nest soil was significantly lower than that of non-ant nest soil under condition of high confining pressure. These findings unveil that ant activities positively affect the energy cycle and species diversity in ecosystems but significantly reduce soil mechanical properties and stability.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/178302