Leaf‐Cutter Ant (Atta cephalotes) Influence on the Morphology of Andepts in Costa Rica

Alvarado, Alfredo; Berish, Cory W.; Peralta, Francisco Javier Aguilera

doi:10.2136/sssaj1981.03615995004500040023x

Cited by 53 publications

(35 citation statements)

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“…Bulk density (a function of porosity and organic matter content) of the deposited material was significantly lower than that of the surrounding soil (~0.29-0.53 vs. 1.04 g cm −3 ). Nest building by Atta cephalotes (L.) in a tropical forest resulted in displacement to the surface of an estimated 460 tonnes of subsoil ha −1 over the average colony's lifespan [228]. The authors concluded that leafcutter ants played a major role in soil genesis and development in areas of the New World tropics.…”

Section: Soil Mixing and The Development Of Pores And Voidsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of Arthropods in Maintaining Soil Fertility

2013

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Abstract:In terms of species richness, arthropods may represent as much as 85% of the soil fauna. They comprise a large proportion of the meso-and macrofauna of the soil. Within the litter/soil system, five groups are chiefly represented: Isopoda, Myriapoda, Insecta, Acari, and Collembola, the latter two being by far the most abundant and diverse. Arthropods function on two of the three broad levels of organization of the soil food web: they are plant litter transformers or ecosystem engineers. Litter transformers fragment, or comminute, and humidify ingested plant debris, which is deposited in feces for further decomposition by micro-organisms, and foster the growth and dispersal of microbial populations. Large quantities of annual litter input may be processed (e.g., up to 60% by termites). The comminuted plant matter in feces presents an increased surface area to attack by micro-organisms, which, through the process of mineralization, convert its organic nutrients into simpler, inorganic compounds available to plants. Ecosystem engineers alter soil structure, mineral and organic matter composition, and hydrology. The burrowing by arthropods, particularly the subterranean network of tunnels and galleries that comprise termite and ant nests, improves soil porosity to provide adequate aeration and water-holding capacity below ground, facilitate root penetration, and prevent surface crusting and erosion of topsoil. Also, the movement of particles from lower horizons to the surface by ants and termites aids in mixing the organic and mineral fractions of the soil. The feces of arthropods are the basis for the formation of soil aggregates and humus, which physically stabilize the soil and increase its capacity to store nutrients.

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Section: Soil Mixing and The Development Of Pores And Voidsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of Arthropods in Maintaining Soil Fertility

2013

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“…When abundant, ants can modify the soil's physical structure by creating systems of galleries and chambers, influencing soil porosity, aeration, infiltration, and drainage (Lavelle & Spain, 2001). They also change soil texture and other soil properties through the horizontal and vertical transfer of materials of different particle sizes (Alvarado et al, 1981).…”

Section: Soil Macrofauna Densitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil macrofauna in cover crops of figs grown under organic management

Merlim

Guerra

Junqueira

et al. 2005

Sci. agric. (Piracicaba, Braz.)

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Soil fauna plays an important role in organic management through their effects on soil organic decomposition, nutrient mineralization, and amelioration of the soil's physical properties. This work evaluates the density and diversity of the soil macrofauna under types of cover plants in areas cultivated with Ficus carica L. under organic management. The soil macrofauna was collected in 0.25 × 0.25 m areas, down to a soil depth of 0.3 m, and at the surface layer. The treatments consisted of bahiagrass living mulch (Paspalum notatum), siratro living mulch (Macroptilium atropurpureum), and bahiagrass mulch. The highest macrofauna density and the lowest diversity were observed in bahiagrass, of which 80% were represented by ants, thus characterizing the soil under this cover crop as showing the lowest functional diversity and quality.

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“…The soil at the study site is an Andept, derived from aged pyroclastic materials of the IrazuTurrialba volcano complex, and pertains to the Colorado series of Typic Dystrandepts (Alvarado et al, 1981). A typical soil profile has a thin (0 to 6cm) All horizon that has a high organic matter content (ca.…”

Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The soil is strongly aggregated, has a rapid infiltration rate (approximately 30 cm hr-1), and a very high water-holding capacity (over 40% by volume at 15 bars of tension) (Russell and Ewel, 1985). Evidence of extensive pedoturbation from leaf-cutter ant activity was present throughout soil profiles (Alvarado et aL, 1981).…”

Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

Root development in simple and complex tropical successional ecosystems

Berish

Ewel

1988

Plant Soil

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Fine and coarse root mass and fine root surface area were studied during 5 yr following the felling and burning of a tropical forest near Turrialba, Costa Rica. Five experimental ecosystems were established: 1) natural successional vegetation, 2) successional vegetation enriched by seed applications, 3) imitation of succession (built by substituting investigator-selected species for natural colonizers), 4) monocultures (two maize crops followed by cassava and Cordia alliodora), and 5) a bare plot.Fine roots grew rapidly in all treatments during the first 15 wk, at which time there were 75 gm -2 in the monoculture and 140g m -2 in the enriched and natural successions. Subsequent growth was slower, and fine-root mass decreased during the first dry season. After 5 yr coarse root mass to a depth of 85 cm was about 800, 1370, and 1530 g m -2 in the succession, enriched succession and imitation of succession, respectively. At the final harvest, the 3.5yr-old C. alliodora plantation had 1000gm -2 of coarse-root biomass. Roots < 1 mm in diameter were concentrated in the upper 5 cm of soil and accounted for most fine-root surface area. Total fine-root surface area was greatest in the enriched successional vegetation and usually lowest in the monoculture.

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Leaf‐Cutter Ant (Atta cephalotes) Influence on the Morphology of Andepts in Costa Rica

Cited by 53 publications

References 0 publications

Role of Arthropods in Maintaining Soil Fertility

Role of Arthropods in Maintaining Soil Fertility

Soil macrofauna in cover crops of figs grown under organic management

Root development in simple and complex tropical successional ecosystems

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