How Many Ants Are in the World?
WouterUsing data from nearly four hundred studies, researchers have determined the global ant population. Their findings are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Ants live in several different habitats, including savannahs, forests, and suburban areas. They are also found in deserts and other sub-tropical regions. They are an important food source for lizards and birds. They also make nests underground. They can be found on all continents.
The ant population is much larger than previously thought. It may be two to 20 times greater. It is also larger than the biomass of all wild birds and mammals combined. It is estimated that the combined biomass of ants is approximately 20 percent of the biomass of humans.
In addition, researchers found that the ant population is more spread out than previously thought. In fact, ants are much more common in the tropics than expected. In addition, the study found that ants are much more common in dry regions than expected. The ant study also found that ants are more common in savannahs and forests than previously thought.
The researchers used standardized techniques to measure ant abundance. These techniques included counting the number of ants on leaf litter and setting traps for ants that passed by. They also combed through databases for reports of ant studies. They assessed four hundred reports, assessing them based on the methods used and the types of sampling sites. They also assessed the major biogeographic regions. These include the Neotropic, Afrotropic, Nearctic, Palaearctic, and Australasia regions.
