Formica cunicularia (FC) is one of the dominant mound-building ant species in arid and semi-arid regions in China. It can modify the soil parameter to a considerable extent through nest building activities. The effects of FC on soil properties, moisture, and seed bank in the Shapotou region were investigated in this paper.
The results show that the longer sand is consolidated, the more active FCs are, the more effects they produce on sand. The activities of FC vary with topographic locations and more nests in hollows and windward slopes while less in dune tops and leeward slopes. The organic matter, total and available N, P and K are enriched in the soil of nests. Comparing with the adjacent soil, the bulk density of soil of ant nest is lower in depth of 10-20 cm and higher in depth of 0-10 cm, and soil electric conductivity and water content are higher. And also, both seedling density and diversity in anthill are higher than those in adjacent soil.
The establishment of planted sand-binding in the Shapotou region improves the environment and provides a favorable living condition for ants. On the contrary nesting activities of ant also affected soil properties. Thanks to the ant bioturbation, soil moisture, texture, properties and seed bank had been modified, which leads to the increasing of the soil heterogeneity and improvement of soil condition, and quickens evolution of soil and vegetation.