You are here

Harvard Forest >

Harvard Forest REU Symposium Abstract 2007

  • Title: Effects of Deer Population in Ant Density in Black Rock Forest, Quabbin Reservoir, and Simes Tract
  • Author: Julie Pallant (Harvard Forest); Ernesto I Rodriguez (Northern Arizona University)
  • Abstract:

    Increase of deer density along American forests in the Northeast due to lack of predators has caused major ecosystem imbalances that influence other species. The focus of this project is to determine the effect, if any, of deer browsing on ant density and diversity in different forest canopies. The data obtained from this project will be used to determine the ant density and variety of seven plots on three Northeastern locations with canopies ranging from heavy to low oak population.

    We sampled two 95 by 95 and five 75 by 75 meters plots with different canopy structures and deer-browsing levels along the New England area. The ant-collecting methods included three litter samples as well as one-hour hand collections in all the sites, and they took place during the months of June and July of 2007.

    The results of the study show that ant-nests are more abundant on oak-dominated canopies with low-levels of understory compared to any other type of field sampled, also a higher diversity of species is found at these sites regardless of understory level. These results suggest that deer over-browsing directly influence some ant species increasing their density while limiting others. Ants are one of the most important species of the forest because they recycle soils and keep forest pathogens at bay. Therefore, further studies about ants are needed in order to appreciate their important role in the ecosystem

  • Research Category: Forest-Atmosphere Exchange; Historical and Retrospective Studies; Biodiversity Studies