Ant Colonies in Colorado are Relocating due to Climate Change
New research published in the journal Ecology on April 9 reveals that certain ant species have been compelled to vacate their original habitats in Gregory Canyon near Boulder, Colorado, over the last six decades due to their inability to withstand rising temperatures driven by climate change.
According to Anna Paraskevopoulos, a Ph.D. student at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the lead author of the study, the resulting shift in biodiversity could potentially reshape local ecosystems.
Ants, like all insects, are ectothermic, meaning their body functions depend on environmental temperature. Thus, they serve as a useful indicator for studying the impacts of climate change on ecosystems.
More than six decades ago, entomologist Robert Gregg and his student John Browne surveyed ant populations in Gregory Canyon. After reviewing their findings, Paraskevopoulos and her team sought to investigate changes in the ant community since then.
Gregory Canyon
They revisited the same survey sites between 2021 and 2022, collecting hundreds of ant samples from various parts of Gregory Canyon, each with its own distinct environment. Despite significant urban expansion in Boulder, Gregory Canyon has remained relatively untouched, providing a unique opportunity to isolate the effects of climate change from other influences such as land use.
The team discovered new ant species in the canyon while observing that certain species had expanded their habitats and now dominated the sites. However, some ant species documented by Browne and Gregg had become less prevalent or were no longer detectable.
Julian Resasco, an assistant professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the senior author of the paper, noted that the composition of ant species across different environments in the canyon is becoming more homogeneous.
The researchers identified 12 ant species that have become scarce compared to six decades ago. Species with broader temperature tolerance are now more widespread, while those with narrower tolerance have become rare, potentially due to increased sensitivity to temperature changes or competition from other ant species that have expanded their habitats.
A significant decline in insect populations
Despite their diminutive size, ants serve as crucial ecosystem engineers. They aerate the soil by creating tunnels and chambers underground and accelerate the decomposition of organic matter. Different ant species fulfill unique roles within ecosystems, such as dispersing specific types of seeds or preying on particular insects.
“If an ecosystem is inhabited by only one ant species, it may indicate that the species contributes to ecosystem functioning in only one way, potentially diminishing ecosystem stability,” Paraskevopoulos explained.
The impact of changes in ant populations on the local ecosystem in Gregory Canyon remains uncertain. However, the disappearance of a species can disrupt other organisms dependent on them for food, pollination, or pest control, according to Paraskevopoulos.
This discovery suggests that alterations in ant biodiversity may be occurring worldwide in both urban and natural environments due to climate change. Insects are experiencing a rapid decline in populations and diversity globally, contributing to what many scientists refer to as an ongoing “insect apocalypse.”
An analysis of 16 studies indicates a 45% decline in insect populations over the past four decades. The population of monarch butterflies in North America has plummeted by 90% in the last 20 years, while one in five native bumblebee species in Colorado is at risk.
“In response to climate change, species are shifting their ranges. Some are expanding and thriving, while others are declining and facing extinction. This research helps us understand how these communities reorganize, which could impact ecosystem functioning,” Resasco remarked.
Read the original article on: Phys Org
Read more: Teaching ants to detect cancerous tumors in mice through their sense of smell.
