How Many Ants Are on Earth?
WouterUsing standardised methods, researchers have counted the number of ants in the world. It’s a staggering number. A new study, which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, estimates that there are between 20 and 25 quadrillion ants on the planet. This is about 2.5 million ants per human.
The new estimate is two to twenty times higher than previous estimates, which were based on estimates of how many ants inhabit particular regions of the planet. These estimates were based on a number of studies conducted around the world. The researchers worked with the Insect Biodiversity and Biogeography Laboratory at the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Hong Kong.
The study also highlights gaps in our knowledge of the ecology of ants. It includes a number of intriguing discoveries, including the fact that ants are not only extremely abundant, they are also surprisingly plentiful in arid regions. The authors also speculate that the distribution of ants around the world may be linked to human land use, climate, and other environmental features.
The study also found that ants have a significant role to play in the ecology of terrestrial ecosystems. They help decompose organic material and spread seeds to new plants. They also serve as pest controllers.
The new study is the first “bottom-up” effort to estimate how many ants there are on the planet. The new estimate is based on actual counts of ants caught around the world. Researchers believe that a better understanding of how many ants are on the planet will help scientists better understand how natural processes work on our planet.
