The Community Structure of Ants in Hordeum Vulgare and Grass Mixture Conditions in the Southwestern Part of Slovakia

Abstract

Ants are an important bioindicative group that plays a significant role in agroecosystems. As a result of interspecific competition for food, they can displace native species. The aim of the research was to assess the influence of environmental variables (soil pH, soil moisture, potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen) and the influence of seasons on the dispersion of ants. Between 2018 and 2020, while investigating different types of crops, we recorded 864 individuals belonging to 9 species and 2 unspecified species (sp.). The dispersion of ants was affected by moisture, soil pH, phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen. In addition, an increase in value of the average number of individuals during spring and summer months was confirmed. We confirmed an increasing number of ant individuals with increasing values of potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen and soil moisture. A neutral pH of soil is optimal for ants. Our results yielded new information indicating that agricultural intensification negatively affects ants which are important for the production of biomass and reduces the number of pests which also affect crop yields.