Impact of abundant Pheidole ant species on soil nutrients in relation to the food biology of the species

• Examined nest density and site-preferences of ant, Pheidole sp. in agroecosystems.
• Examined physico-chemical characteristics of Pheidole sp. nest debris soil.
• Recorded types and quantities of food materials brought to the nests.
• Debris soil had high concentrations of C, N, P, NO3-N and water-holding capacity.
• Pheidole sp. regulates soil nutrients as an ecosystem engineer.

Impact of Pheidole sp., reportedly important in insect pest suppression in agroecosystems was studied on supporting agroecosystem services. This tropical ant species was found to be common and abundant in agroecosystems, with a high nest density and preference for the central, crop-growing zone of annual cropping systems. Physico-chemical characteristics of the debris soil were examined from nests located by the roadside and within two managed ecosystems. The debris soil had significantly higher concentrations of total C, N, P and NO3-N along with higher water-holding capacity and moderate-sized soil particles in comparison to the control soil. The pH of the Pheidole sp. debris soil was shifted towards reduced alkaline conditions. Results reveal that annually, 2.44 kg/ha C, 0.071 kg/ha P, 0.628 kg/ha N and 0.009 kg/ha NO3-N are added to the soil through the accumulation of organic refuse at the nest rim. This contributes to soil nutrient enhancement and is suggested to enhance ecosystem productivity. The high nutrient content of nest debris soil is linked to the predominance of arthropod carcasses (93.7% of the total organic refuse) in the refuse piles derived from the animal-based food (70.3%) brought to the nests by the foragers. Plant-based food was 29.6% (seeds, leaves, roots, etc.) of the total indicating a minor role of Pheidole sp. as a seed harvester. The results suggest an important role of Pheidole sp. in regulating the soil nutrients as an ecosystem engineer.