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Experts often refer to invertebrates as “the little things that run the world,” and ants are certainly among the best candidates for this role. Ants help ecosystems function
Experts often refer to invertebrates as “the little things that run the world,” and ants are certainly among the best candidates for this role. Ants help ecosystems function properly, and the total weight of all ants in the world is roughly equivalent to 1.4 billion people.
Unfortunately, some ants have become invasive species; organisms that enter a new ecosystem and cause damage. As my team’s new research shows, such promotions are often made by people accidentally, but can have dire consequences. Invasive species are considered the second biggest threat to biodiversity after habitat destruction. They are the leading cause of animal extinction, potentially leading to species extinction and ecosystem degradation.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature includes five different ant species on its list of the 100 most feared invasive alien species in the world. But while invasive ants significantly alter some of the areas they can invade, other areas appear to be much less affected or not at all.
My team’s research builds on studies conducted around the world to determine how bad or good invasive ants are in terms of biodiversity loss. The results show us that invasive ants are not as bad as we thought. We extracted data from 46 different scientific papers examining how animal communities respond to invasive ants and combined the results. We selected only studies conducted in a relatively “intact” natural environment, away from intense human activities.
These are areas where invasive ants have moved from more degraded habitats or urban environments. This allows us to say with greater confidence that any negative or positive impacts on animal communities are due to invasive ants and not to other invasive species or to some type of human disturbance such as agriculture or deforestation.
Our results show that animal communities predominantly respond negatively to invasive ants. We found that there were on average 50% fewer individual animals and species in areas where ants lived, and a dramatic decline in biodiversity. It is also important to note that these results are averages, so invasive ants may lead to the death of some animal populations that exceed these numbers.
We also found that some animal species, such as birds, reptiles, and insects, respond more strongly than others. Local ants were the most affected group. This makes sense because many native ants will not only be directly attacked by invasive ants, but will also have to compete with them for food and nest sites. This is also bad news because of the overall importance of native ants to the wider ecosystem.
Other groups severely affected are birds, insects, butterflies, moths and reptiles.
We also found that the number of individuals in a group of insects (bugs such as scale insects, aphids, and mealybugs) increased. This group forms a “mutualism” with ants in which each species receives a net benefit.
These insects suck sap and secrete a sweet liquid called honeydew, which ants love. In return for this sugary secret, the ants will protect these insects from predators and parasites and ensure that their populations mutually increase. In some cases, this mutualism can facilitate invasion and lead to disastrous consequences.
Although ants are small compared to the way humans perceive the world, they are numerous and tend to interact with a wide variety of other organisms. This means they can impact the ecosystem from different angles of attack. Invasive ants likely actively prey on other species, but competition for food or space is also important.
Ultimately, we need more research to learn how ants interact with other species when they occupy a site. What do they eat? Who do they compete with for food? Which habitats do they prefer and why? These questions urgently need to be answered so that we can understand, prioritize and optimize how to minimize the negative impacts of invasive ants.
Overall, our study is alarming. The decline in animal diversity can have serious consequences for the functioning of ecosystems and the long-term future of rare species. While there are important considerations for reducing or eliminating these impacts, the conservation implications are not clearly established.
For example, ant eradication regimes are logistically difficult and financially expensive, and most fail. Control measures such as poisoned baits, along with early detection technology, can help conservationists prevent or reverse the impact of invasive ants on our ecosystems. Source
Source: Port Altele
As an experienced journalist and author, Mary has been reporting on the latest news and trends for over 5 years. With a passion for uncovering the stories behind the headlines, Mary has earned a reputation as a trusted voice in the world of journalism. Her writing style is insightful, engaging and thought-provoking, as she takes a deep dive into the most pressing issues of our time.
