Positive and negative impact to decomposition of pig cadavers by ants (hymenoptera: Formicidae) at the Islet Yeongdo in Busan, South Korea

Abstract

We observed how ants affected the decomposition process of pig cadavers. Experiments were carried out with six pig cadavers during three seasons without winter. Fifteen ant species belonging to 14 genera 3 subfamilies were recorded from pig cadavers. The species richness and species composition of ants were different significantly at bloated and decay stages from the remaining stages, regardless of season. Ant species Nylanderia flavipes, Aphaenogaster japonica, Pheidole fervida, and Ectomomyrmex javanus kept hunting a considerable amount of eggs and maggots of flies in the two stages. In particular, Lasius japonicus continually interrupted landing and ovipositing of flies and removed eggs and maggots from pig cadavers. Our observation suggests that ants may affect decomposition process of dead animals by participating in positive and negative ways by massive removal of eggs and maggots of flies.

Ant body size mediates functional performance and species interactions in carrion decomposer communities

“…Although large ants significantly reduce the maggot mass, this removal does not necessarily impede the overall decomposition process. On the contrary, the positive mass loss effect of large ants indicates that they might facilitate carcass decomposition, possibly through three ways: firstly, by acting as decomposers themselves and consuming the carcass (Barton & Evans, 2017; Eubanks et al., 2019); secondly, by lacerating the carcass and opening up new entry points for flies to lay eggs (Eubanks et al., 2019; Meyer et al., 2020; Paula et al., 2016); and thirdly, by predating on maggots (Bonacci et al., 2011; De Jong & Hoback, 2006; Park & Moon, 2020; Paula et al., 2016) and thus opening up new feeding places for other members in the community. This demonstrates a complex interplay of species interactions in necrophilous decomposer communities and highlights our remaining knowledge gaps.…”

“…The role played by ants within the necrophilous insect guild can be complex and sometimes contradictory. Indeed, ants have been shown to play accelerating (Bonacci et al., 2011), decreasing (Barton & Evans, 2017) or both accelerating and decreasing roles in the decomposition rate of carrion (Park & Moon, 2020; Paula et al., 2016). Our results show that species with different body sizes may impact the decomposition process in different ways, with larger species directly removing biomass from the carrion while simultaneously decreasing the decomposition impacts of other necrophilous insects through their predatory actions.…”

Territorial ants delay carrion decomposition by depressing Diptera larvae in a Tibetan alpine meadow

“…Similar findings were also observed for Anoplolepis Gracilipes , Oecophylla smaragdina , Pheidologeton sp. (Chin et al, 2009), and for Nylanderia flavipes , Aphaenogaster japonica , Ectomomyrmex javanus (Park & Moon, 2020). However, bullet ants ( Paraponera clavata ) can consume carrion tissues by grabbing and breaking off larger carrion into smaller pieces with their mandibles (Romero et al, 2020).…”

“…Fly eggs, maggots and pupae are usually the most cost‐effective food resources for ants (Park & Moon, 2020) like C. herculeanus because of their high energy and low locomotivity. C. herculeanus significantly reduced the number of maggots through directly consumption, and further decreased the carrion mass loss rate.…”

“…Fly eggs, maggots and pupae are usually the most cost-effective food resources for ants(Park & Moon, 2020) like C. herculeanus F I G U R E 4 Removal percentage (a) and attack frequency (b) of maggots, T. rugosus and Staphylinidae sp. by ants in the supplementary behavioural experiment.…”