I am not an Agricultural specialist, but from what i have read, ants can serve a role as a natural pesticide for crops. They can also create underground passageways which act as small waterways to allow water to be better absorbed by the soil. This can promote crop growth.
According to the first systematic review of the contribution of ants to crop production, they functioned more positively in killing pests, reducing plant damage and increasing crop yields.
Ants are general predators. They prey on pests that damage fruits, seeds and leaves, resulting in reduced crop yields.
Hello Rashed; In addition to what Coskun has suggested, some ants also tend hemipterans which often get established on crop and ornamental species. This association causes serious damage. Yet other nectar gathering ants defend the plants on which they forage and drive off pollinators of those plants. This may reduce crop yields. The answer to the question is complicated because there are so many ant species and so many functional groups. Cheers, Jim Des Lauriers
Ants play a crucial role in residential, agricultural, and forest areas due to their diverse ecological functions. Here are some of the key contributions of ants in these environments:
Seed Dispersal: Ants are known as important seed dispersers. They collect seeds from plants and transport them to new locations, aiding in plant colonization and distribution. This process helps maintain plant diversity and ecosystem regeneration.
Pest Control: Ants are natural predators and help control populations of other insects and pests. They prey on small insects, including herbivorous pests, and help keep their populations in check, reducing the need for chemical pesticides in agricultural and residential areas.
Nutrient Cycling: Ants play a role in nutrient cycling by moving organic matter and nutrients through their nest-building and foraging activities. They contribute to the decomposition process by breaking down dead plant material and recycling nutrients back into the soil.
Soil Aeration and Nutrient Redistribution: Ants construct underground tunnels and galleries, which enhance soil aeration and water infiltration. Their movements also help redistribute nutrients throughout the soil, making them more accessible to plant roots.
Pollination: While ants are not the primary pollinators compared to bees or butterflies, some ant species contribute to pollination, particularly in certain plant communities. They can aid in the transfer of pollen between flowers, assisting in the reproductive success of some plant species.
Ecosystem Engineers: Ants, through their nest-building activities, modify the physical structure of the environment. Their excavations create microhabitats, improve soil structure, and influence the distribution of soil organisms. These changes can have broader effects on the diversity and functioning of ecosystems.
Indicator Species: Ant communities can serve as indicators of environmental health and ecosystem disturbances. Certain ant species are sensitive to habitat degradation, pollution, or land-use changes, making them useful in assessing ecosystem conditions and the impact of human activities.
Overall, ants play essential roles in maintaining ecosystem balance, promoting biodiversity, enhancing soil health, and providing ecological services in residential, agricultural, and forest areas. Understanding and conserving ant populations and their habitats is important for sustaining healthy ecosystems and the services they provide.
Ants turn and aerate the soil, allowing water and oxygen to reach plant roots.
Ants take seeds down into their tunnel to eat the nutritious elaiosomes that are part of the seed. These seeds often sprout and grow new plants (seed dispersal)
Ants act as decomposers by feeding on organic waste, insects or other dead animals. They help keep the environment clean. Carpenter ants, which make their nests in dead or diseased wood, considerably accelerate the decomposition process of timber. After the ants leave, fungi and bacteria grow in the galleries and break down the lignin and cellulose on large surfaces.