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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.
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J. Entomol. Res. Soc., 25(1): 79-90, 2023 Research Article
Doi: 10.51963/jers.v25i1.2183 Online ISSN:2651-3579
Langraf, V., Purkart, A., Petrovičová, K., & Schlarmannová, J. (2023). The community structure of ants in
Hordeum vulgare and grass mixture conditions in the southwestern part of Slovakia. Journal of the
Entomological Research Society, 25(1), 79-90.
Received: January 19, 2022 Accepted: February 19, 2023
The Community Structure of Ants in Hordeum Vulgare and Grass
Mixture Conditions in the Southwestern Part of Slovakia
Vladimír LANGRAF1* Adrián PURKART2 Kornélia PETROVIČOVÁ3
Janka SCHLARMANNOVÁ1**
1 Department of Zoology and Anthropology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Constantine the
Philosopher University in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 1, Nitra, SLOVAK REPUBLIC
2 Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovičova 6,
842 15 Bratislava, SLOVAK REPUBLIC
3 Institute of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources
Slovak, University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 94901 Nitra, SLOVAK REPUBLIC
e-mails: 1*langrafvladimir@gmail.com, 2pu rkart .adri an@gmail .com,
3kornelia.petrovicova@gmail.com 1**jschlarmannova@ukf.sk
ORCID IDs:1*0000-0002-3839-3036, 20000-0002-8471-5083
30000-0002-1581-2517, 1**0000-0003-0730-6056
1*Corresponding Authors
ABSTRACT
Ants are an important bioindicative group that plays a signicant role in agroecosystems. As a result of
interspecic competition for food, they can displace native species. The aim of the research was to assess
the inuence of environmental variables (soil pH, soil moisture, potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen) and
the inuence of seasons on the dispersion of ants. Between 2018 and 2020, while investigating di󰀨erent
types of crops, we recorded 864 individuals belonging to 9 species and 2 unspecied species (sp.). The
dispersion of ants was a󰀨ected 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 conrmed.
We conrmed 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 intensication negatively a󰀨ects ants which are important for the production of
biomass and reduces the number of pests which also a󰀨ect crop yields.
Keywords: ants, abundance, agrosystems, diversity, eld margins.
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LANGRAF, V., PURKART, A., PETROVIČOVÁ, K., & SCHLARMANNOVÁ, J.
INTRODUCTION
In a world with a rapidly expanding population of people, there is a growing demand
for food and a simultaneous need for higher environmental sustainability. The area
available for agricultural production is limited, and methods which do not compromise
yields are needed. Insects are one of the largest groups of animals which play a vital
part in the conservation of ecosystems, improve the health of an ecosystem, and
are the critical component in the food web in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
(Courtney, 1994; Brygadyrenko, 2015; Faly, Kolombar, Prokopenko, Pakhomov, &
Brygadyrenko, 2017; Avtaeva, Sukhodolskaya, & Brygadyrenko, 2021). Ants are one of
the most ecologically dominant groups of insects in terrestrial habitats. Their ecological
success can be attributed to the variety and e󰀩ciency of their foraging habits, eusocial
mode of life, local abundance and the ability to adjust their activity to environmental
changes (Ronque, Fourcassié, & Oliveira, 2018). They are a social insect group that
carry out various roles such as predator, prey, detritivore and herbivore (Diamé, Rey,
Vayssières, Grechi, Chailleux, & Diarra 2018). They vary signicantly, there are almost
14,000 species found widely distributed across the earth (Bolton, 2021). They are
cosmopolitan and exist across several di󰀨erent ecosystems, including forests, damp
places, water sources and drylands. Given this presence, it is no wonder that ant
diversity is used as a bioindicator to determine ecosystem and environmental changes
(Gibb, et al, 2020; Oberprieler & Andersen, 2020).
A
nts contribute to various ecosystem services including soil dynamics and nutrient
cycling, they directly a󰀨ect species composition in animal and plant communities
(Toro, Ribbons, & Pelini, 2012), they represent an important component of agricultural
ecosystems (O󰀨enberg, 2015) and especially semi-natural habitats within agricultural
landscapes (Marshall & Moonen, 2002). They are skilful tillers of soil, dispensers
of seeds and microbial propagules, transmitters of N2-xing bacteria, ecosystem
engineers, fungi growers, waste managers, biotechnologists, pest controllers, soldiers
and reproducers (Benckiser, 2007). Their densities and compositions in agricultural
sites depend on human activities and are predictable in a typical agricultural land-use
mosaic such as arable, fallow, grassland elds and forest sites (Dauber, 2001; Braschler,
2005; Purkart, Kollár, & Go󰀨ová, 2019). Therefore, many ant species hold desirable
characteristics unshared by most other benecials. They comprise at least one-third of
all insect biomass (Hölldobler & Wilson, 2009). With such abundance, any interaction
derived from this taxon holds a high potential. Most ant species are polyphagous,
cooperative often with polymorphic worker forces, enabling them to deploy a wide range
of prey types. They may exert pressure on several pest species and their life stages.
Their territorial behaviour makes them attack and deter pests that are far beyond the
size of potential prey (Manak, Nordenhem, Bjorklund, Lenoir, & Nordlander, 2013).
Weaver ants (Oecophylla smaragdina and O. longinoda) control more than 50 di󰀨erent
pests in 12 di󰀨erent crops. They are able to increase farmers’ net income by more than
70% when substituting conventional pesticide regimes (Peng, Christian, & Gibb, 2004;
Peng & Christian, 2005). Ants’ predation makes them prospects for future integrated
pest management strategies in agriculture
(O󰀨enberg, 2014).
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The Community Structure of Ants in Hordeum Vulgare
The objective of this study was to analyse the community structure of ants in the
conditions of Hordeum vulgare and Grass mixture. In the work, we also analysed the
e󰀨ects of environmental variables (soil humidity, soil pH, potassium, phosphorus and
nitrogen), which might inuence their abundance and population structure. The results
of our work might inuence for the correct setting of crop management, so that there
is no disturbance to the population of ants due to their importance in agroecosystems,
where they are part of the biomass and also participate in the reduction of crop pests.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The research took place in the year 2018 to 2020 and we collected ants in two types
of agricultural crops. In the winter crop of Hordeum vulgare, ants were collected from
November to July. In the Grass mixture, ants were collected year-round. These types
of agricultural crops were examined throughout each year, the position of crops in the
elds changed every year (Klimánek, 2008). Crops were grown in a conventional way.
The soil was ploughed three times and turned. Pre-sowing preparation and sowing
were combined. Machines with driven working tools were used in conjunction with a
seed drill. When sowing, it was possible to use seed coulters with an obtuse angle
of penetration into the soil.
Study area
The study area of agricultural crops is located in the geomorphological unit of the
Podunajská pahorkatina - the Danubian upland (the south-western part of Slovakia)
in the cadastral territory of Nitra Fig. 1. The altitude of the monitored area was
approximately 130m above sea level with a brown type of soil. The study area belongs
to a warm arid climate area with mild winters (Table 1).
Figure 1. Map of the study area.
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LANGRAF, V., PURKART, A., PETROVIČOVÁ, K., & SCHLARMANNOVÁ, J.
Table 1. Average values of temperature and rainfall.
Month Average temperature (°C) Average rainfall (mm)
January −5–5 30
February −3–6 26
March 0–12 35
April 10–20 12
May 15–22 65
June 18–27 77
July 22–29 41
August 20–29 57
September 15–23 64
October 8–15 54
November −3–7 40
December −5–5 55
Collection of samples and application of sprays
We used ve pitfall traps for each site, which were placed in a line at a distance
of 10 metres. A 4% formaldehyde solution to x the material was used. Pitfall traps
were always in the elds and were collected at two-week intervals. The nomenclature
and determination of ants was established according to the work of Seifert (2018).
The insecticide FORCE (Syngenta, Basel, Switzerland), a granular insecticide
in-tended for soil application to control soil pests, was applied to the crops. Insects
were killed through respiratory and tactile poison ingestion. The preparation had a
fast e󰀨ect and a strong residual (repellent) action against a wide range of soil pests
from the orders of Coleoptera, Aranea and Hymenoptera. The applied dose was
administered uniformly at a concentration of 12–15 kg per ha each year for the duration
of the research. Solinure FX fertiliser (Medilco Hellas S.A., Athens, Greece) containing
chlorides and urea, was applied to the crops and was intended for eld fertility. Due
to its acidifying e󰀨ect, it contributed to lowering the soil pH.
Measurement of environmental variables
At each pitfall trap location we removed stones and fallen leaves from crops and
sampled the soil to a depth of 15 cm for analysis. Five samples (one from each of
ve sites) were taken from each eld every two weeks over the three years of the
study period. Subsequently, environmental variables (N, P, K, pH, moisture) were
analysed using a soil moisture meter (Rapitest 3 1835, Luster Leaf, Illinois, IL, USA)
and a pH meter (Dexxer PH-03, Luboň, Poland). We thoroughly wetted the broken
up soil with water (ideally distilled or deionised water) to a muddy consistency. We
wiped the meter probe clean with a tissue or paper towel and inserted it into the soil
up to the probe base (7-10 cm). We waited one minute and wrote down the value.
We converted the measured values into units of mg.
Database quality
The data obtained by research has been saved in the Microsoft SQL Server 2017
database program (Express Edition), consisting of frequency tables for collections
and measured environmental variables, (pH, soil moisture, potassium, phosphorus
83
The Community Structure of Ants in Hordeum Vulgare
and nitrogen). The database also consisted of code tables for study sites and their
variables (crops, habitat, locality name, cadastral area, altitude and coordinates of
localities). Matrices for statistical calculations using the Microsoft SQL Server 2017
were programmed.
Statistical analyses
The multivariate analysis (redundancy analysis - RDA) to determine the
dependencies between objects (ants, agricultural crops and soil characteristics) was
used. We tested the statistical signicance of pH, soil moisture, potassium, phosphorus
and nitrogen with the Monte Carlo permutation test in the CANOCO5 program (Ter
Braak & Šmilauer, 2012).
Analysis in the statistical program Statistica Cz. (StatSoft Inc., 2004) focused on
polynomial regression, expressing the relationship between the number of ants and
the values of potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, pH and soil moisture. The Shapiro-Wilk
W-test determined the normality of data distribution. Based on the violation of the
normality data distribution (p-value = 0.00), we used the nonparametric Friedman test
(ANOVA). It was used to test the di󰀨erences in the number of individuals between
the months.
RESULTS
Over a period of three years of research, we found a total of 864 individuals
belonging to 9 species and 2 unspecied species (sp.) in the studied area. Species
of Lasius niger (83.80%) and Tetramorium caespitum (11.11%) had a eudominant
representation of individuals, other species had subdominant to subrecendent
representation (Table 2).
Table 2. Distribution of the ants in the agricultural crops during the years 2018 - 2020.
Species Grass mixture Hordeum vulgare ∑ ind.
Formica cunicularia Latreille, 1798 411 15
Formica rubarbis Fabricius, 1793 0 2 2
Formica sp. 0 1 1
Lasius alienus Förster, 1850 0 1 1
Lasius niger (Linné, 1758) 305 419 724
Lasius sp. 3 3 6
Lasius umbratus (Nylander, 1846) 2 11 13
Myrmica sabuleti Meinert, 1861 0 4 4
Polyergus rufescens (Latreille, 1798) 1 0 1
Solenopsis fugax Latreille, 1798 1 0 1
Tetramorium caespitum Santschi, 1927 1 95 96
∑ individuals 317 547 864
Multivariate analysis of the ants between the years 2018 and 2020 was determined
using the redundancy analysis (RDA, SD = 1.40 on the rst ordination axis). We
observed the relationship between ants and environmental variables (pH of the soil, soil
moisture, potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen). The values of the explained variability
of taxonomic data were 50.9% on the rst ordination axis and 54.8% on the second
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LANGRAF, V., PURKART, A., PETROVIČOVÁ, K., & SCHLARMANNOVÁ, J.
ordination axis. The cumulative variability of the species set explained by environment
variables was represented in the rst ordination axis 88.9% and in the 2nd axis 95.7%.
Using the Monte Carlo permutation test, we identied a statistically signicant e󰀨ect of
soil moisture (p = 0.0088, F(1.0276) = 2.0021, df = 5), soil pH (p = 0.0508, F(1.1183)
= 1.9297,df = 5), phosphorus (p = 0.0466, F(1.1952) = 2.0805, df = 5), potassium (p =
0.0328, F(1.7145) = 1.9620, df = 5) and nitrogen (p = 0.0490, F(1.7006) = 2.1005, df =
5) on the structure of arthropods. The selected variables were not mutually correlated
with the maximum value of the ination factor = 4.3243. The ordination graph (triplot)
contained ants ordered into one cluster (Fig. 2). The rst cluster (I) consisted of ants
correlated with phosphorus (mg) and moisture. The Formica rubarbis species has
links to potassium (mg) and soil pH. Polyergus rufescens correlated with nitrogen
(mg). Solenopsis fugax was not a󰀨ected by environmental variables.
Figure 2. RDA analysis of ants with environmental variables.
The normality data distribution (number of individuals) was violated (p-value =
0.00). Based on that, a nonparametric Friedman test (ANOVA) was used to conrm
the statistically signicant di󰀨erence (p-value = 0.04670, F (2.27) = 2.83040, df = 3)
(Fig. 3) of individuals between months and crops of the Hordeum vulgare and Grass
mixture. The results showed an increase in the average value of individuals in June
- August in the crops Hordeum vulgare. Under Grass mixture conditions, the number
of individuals increased from March to June and decreased in the following months.
The number of individual ants was processed using polynomial regression.
Using the regression model, we expressed the relationship (correlation) between
the number of individuals of ants and potassium (mg), phosphorus (mg), nitrogen
(mg), pH and humidity (%). The correlation coe󰀩cient value was high for the number
of individuals and pH (r = 0.8140) (Fig. 4, A), potassium (r = 0.9012) (Fig. 4, B),
phosphorus (r = 0.8905) (Fig. 4, C), nitrogen (r = 0.7981) (Fig. 4, D) and moisture (r
= 0.881) (Fig. 4, E), which indicated a strong relationship. The reliability coe󰀩cient
for the pH r2 = 0.6899 indicated the capture of 68% variability, potassium r2 = 0.6908
(69% variability), phosphorus r2 = 0.7504 (75% variability), nitrogen r2 = 0.7145
(71% variability) and moisture r2 = 0.7384 (73% variability). The overall suitability of
the regression model is statistically signicant in all cases: pH (p-value = 0.0015),
85
The Community Structure of Ants in Hordeum Vulgare
potassium (p-value = 0.0428), phosphorus (p-value = 0.0298), nitrogen (p-value =
0.0248) and moisture (p-value = 0.0118). The results showed that increasing values
of potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen and soil humidity also increased the number of
ant individuals. The ideal value for ants was 16 - 22 mg/kg potassium, 1.3 - 1.8 mg/
kg phosphorus, 16 - 22 mg/kg nitrogen, 7 pH and 14 – 22 % for moisture.
Figure 3. Friedman test (ANOVA) di󰀨erence in the number of individuals between month and crops.
Figure 4. Polynomial regression model potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, pH and moisture on the number
of individuals of the ants.
DISCUSSION
Ants living in agricultural landscapes have a wider tolerance than ants from natural
habitats. They can achieve high local density due to the inuence of agriculture and eld
margins support the most diverse community of ants (Bote & Romero, 2012; Oliveira et
al, 2012; Magura, Ferrante, & Lövei 2020). We recorded that the ant community was
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LANGRAF, V., PURKART, A., PETROVIČOVÁ, K., & SCHLARMANNOVÁ, J.
dominated by species Lasius niger and Tetramorium caespitum. The great abundance
of ants a󰀨ects the maintenance of the natural balance and substance cycle of the
biogenic elements in ecosystems such as carbon, nitrogen, sulphur and phosphorus.
The dominance of Hymenoptera (Formicidae) and Coleoptera has been indicated as
a general trait of ground-dwelling assemblages (Miranda, Piñero, & Megías, 2007;
Lenoir & Lennartsson, 2010; Pardee & Philpott, 2011). Their activities accelerated
the decomposition of plant residues, aerated the soil and improved soil structure
and quality (Holecová, Lukáš, & Harakaľová, 2003; Dieng, Ndiaye, & Taylor, 2016).
The dominant representation of the ants (Formicidae) and Coleoptera taxon among
epigeic arthropods in the conditions of integrated farming and ecological farming was
also recorded by Porhajašová Noskovič, Rakovská, Babošová, & Čeryová (2015);
Porhajašová, Babošová, Noskovič, & Ondrišík (2018).
Exploiting biodiversity on ecosystem service provision is a goal of contemporary
agriculture, although relationships between diversity and ecosystem services remain
largely unexplored for innovative practices (Kalivoda, Petrovič,& Kürthy, 2010; Finney
& Kaye, 2016; Gri󰀩ths et al, 2000; Špulerová, Petrovič, Mederly, Mojses, & Izakovičová
2018; Dobrovodska, Kanka, & David, 2019). Ants play an irreplaceable role in the
decomposition of organic matter, in the cycle of biogenic elements of carbon, nitrogen,
sulphur, phosphorus, in transformation and degradation of waste and toxic substances,
and their presence is irreplaceable (Fazekašová & Bobuľovská, 2012). Using the
multivariate model, we demonstrated the inuence of environmental variables (pH
of the soil, soil moisture, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen) on the abundance of
ants. Thus, our results agreed with the results of (Attwood, Maron, House, & Zammit
(2008)), who observed a change of abundance of ants with increasing land use.
Biodiversity loss as a consequence of agricultural intensication can lead to reductions
in agroecosystem functions and services. Increasing crop diversity through rotation
may alleviate these negative consequences by restoring positive interactions. The
impact of ants is an important component of the strategy leading to the sustainability
of the soil ecosystem. The diversity of ants, including its abundance in soil, depends
on the abiotic and biotic factors that are typical of the biotope (Zak, Holmes, White,
Peacock, & Tilman, 2003; Tiemann, Grandy, Atkinson, Spiotta, & McDaniel, 2015).
Arthropod abundance from month to month is usually interpreted as being related
to uctuations in climatic factors (such as temperature, precipitation and day length)
(Lionello, Rizzoli, & Boscolo, 2006). The number of ants in March and June was
higher from the number of ants captured in July and September in Grass mixture
conditions. In the Hordeum vulgare crop we have seen a steady increase. Simão,
Carretero, Amaral, Soares, & Mateos (2015) also conrmed di󰀨erences in the
number of ants a󰀨ected by di󰀨erent weather during the seasons. Andrew, Roberts,
Hill (2012) have suggested that precipitation is more inuential on ant diversity at
high temperatures than at low temperatures. Greenberg & McGrane (1996); Majeed,
Rana, Azevedo, Elmo, & Nargis (2020) conrmed a seasonal trend for the abundance
of arthropod groups. It is established that environmental variables and the inuence
of biogeographic factors account for uctuations in species abundance. Climatic
87
The Community Structure of Ants in Hordeum Vulgare
conditions during the months impact the biodiversity of ant species (Garcia, Cabeza,
Rahbek, & Araújo, 2014; Williams & Newbold, 2020). In our study, we conrmed
with the help of regression models a strong relationship between the environmental
variables potassium (mg), phosphorus (mg), nitrogen (mg), pH, humidity (%) and
the abundance of ants. For agricultural management, understanding how species’
behaviour varies with environmental variables is imperative in ensuring food security
in the future. In addition, ants’ predation makes them prospects for future integrated
pest management strategies in agriculture (O󰀨enberg, 2014). Ants mineralize nutrients,
form soil aggregates, and disperse seeds, are signicant and necessary for decorous
ecosystem functioning and sustainability (Del Toro, Ribbons, & Pelini, 2012; Pfei󰀨er,
Mezger, & Dyckmans 2013).
CONCLUSION
Our results have provided new knowledge about the preference of ants in the
conditions of Hordeum vulgare and Grass mixture in central Europe. The dispersion
of ants was inuenced by soil moisture, soil pH, phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen.
We conrmed an increase in the average number of individuals during spring and
summer months. The ants had a strong correlation with soil moisture (%), soil pH,
phosphorus (mg/kg), potassium (mg/kg) and nitrogen (mg/kg). With increasing
values of potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen and moisture, the number of individuals
also increased. We conrmed that the optimal soil pH value was neutral. A practical,
workable approach should be used to preserve the current ant population, achieve
sustainable levels of biodiversity, key species to develop conservation and agricultural
management strategies. This is of particular importance to those who may face
pressure from pest species threatening crop yields. This study can be helpful in the
planning of conservation programs as well as provide information to farmers to initiate
integrated pest management strategies.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This research was supported by the grants VEGA 2/0022/23 and KEGA No.
002UKF-4/2022 Metaanalyzes in biology and ecology (databases and statistical data
analysis).
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