How Much Ants Are in the World?
WouterCounting the amount of ants on Earth is something scientists have long wondered about. It is important for scientists to know how many ants are in the world so they can track environmental changes. The new study estimated the global population of ants at 20 quadrillion. That is about twice as many ants as have been estimated before.
The researchers used data from 489 studies assessing ant populations around the world. These studies included studies on major biomes, such as forests and savannahs, as well as studies on continents with ant-inhabited areas.
Most of these studies sampled ants living in the ground. Others collected ants from leaf litter. They used pitfall traps to collect ants for analysis. The researchers then compiled the results into a database. The new study found that ants are very abundant in tropical climates. They are also surprisingly abundant in arid regions.
The researchers speculate that ants are distributed in this way because of climate, land use, and other environmental factors. They also plan to study how environmental factors affect population density.
Currently, estimates of how much ants are in the world range from 2.5 megatons of carbon to 70 megatons. These calculations are based on approximations, which were extrapolated from certain parts of the world. However, the new calculation only included a conservative arboreal ant estimate.
The researchers also estimate that 20 quadrillion ants weigh more than the combined biomass of all wild mammals and birds. The estimated total of ants on Earth is about 20% of the total biomass of humans.
