Ant‐mediated ecosystem functions on a warmer planet: effects on soil movement, decomposition and nutrient cycling

Journal Article · Thu Apr 23 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Journal of Animal Ecology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.12367· OSTI ID:1400697

Del Toro, Israel ^[1]; Ribbons, Relena R. ^[2]; Ellison, Aaron M. ^[3]; Cuddington, ed., Kim

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1. Organismic and Evolutionary Biology University of Massachusetts Amherst MA 01003 USA, Harvard Forest Harvard University Petersham MA 01366 USA, Center for Macroecology Evolution and Climate University of Copenhagen 2100 Copenhagen Denmark, The Jornada Basin Experimental Range Las Cruces NM 88003 USA
2. The Jornada Basin Experimental Range Las Cruces NM 88003 USA, School of the Environment Natural Resources and Geography Bangor University Bangor Wales LL572DG UK, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management University of Copenhagen Copenhagen 1958 Denmark
3. Organismic and Evolutionary Biology University of Massachusetts Amherst MA 01003 USA, Harvard Forest Harvard University Petersham MA 01366 USA

Summary Direct and indirect consequences of global warming on ecosystem functions and processes mediated by invertebrates remain understudied but are likely to have major impacts on ecosystems in the future. Among animals, invertebrates are taxonomically diverse, responsive to temperature changes, and play major ecological roles which also respond to temperature changes. We used a mesocosm experiment to evaluate impacts of two warming treatments (+3·5 and +5 °C, set‐points) and the presence and absence of the ant Formica subsericea (a major mediator of processes in north temperate ecosystems) on decomposition rate, soil movement, soil respiration and nitrogen availability. Replicate 19‐L mesocosms were placed outdoors in lathe houses and continuously warmed for 30 days in 2011 and 85 days in 2012. Warming treatments mimicked expected temperature increases for future climates in eastern North America. In both years, the amount of soil displaced and soil respiration increased in the warming and ant presence treatments (soil movement: 73–119%; soil respiration: 37–48% relative to the control treatments without ants). Decomposition rate and nitrogen availability tended to decrease in the warmest treatments (decomposition rate: −26 to −30%; nitrate availability: −11 to −42%). Path analyses indicated that ants had significant short‐term direct and indirect effects on the studied ecosystem processes. These results suggest that ants may be moving more soil and building deeper nests to escape increasing temperatures, but warming may also influence their direct and indirect effects on soil ecosystem processes.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 1400697
• Journal Information: Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Name: Journal of Animal Ecology Vol. 84 Journal Issue: 5; ISSN 0021-8790
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• Country of Publication: United Kingdom
• Language: English