Review on the Effects of Ants on Animals, Plants and Soil in Grasslands

Ant is one of important components of grassland ecosystem. The species, distribution, nesting and feeding of ants play an important role in vegetation succession and soil characteristics in grasslands. We summarized the species and distribution of ants in different type grasslands in middle and high altitude areas, relationship between the ants and other animals, the effects of the ants on plant community composition and physical and chemical characteristics in ant nest soil. The results indicated that: (1) The ants were high adaptability and widely distributed in each of grassland, and the species was different among different grasslands; (2) Ants acts as consumers of grassland ecosystems, the relationships between ants and other animals exhibited competition, predation and prey, symbiosis and parasitism, all of these can benefit or harm the health of grassland, which will ultimately maintains the balance of the grassland ecosystem; (3) Ants reduced plant species diversity and changed the plant community structure by building nest; (4) Ants increased the nutrients and microbial activity of ant nests soil by digging, transporting, excreting and burying, and also increased porosity and reduced bulk density of nest soil, while the effect of ants on the soil moisture varied from the different grasslands. In order to deeply reveal the effects of ants on grassland ecosystem, the following studies needed to be carried out in the future: effects of anthill formation on the grassland succession and mechanisms of feeding and nesting activities of ants on the formation of grassland vegetation micropatches; the role of ants in controlling and prevention of grassland pest; how do the ant secretions affects the composition of grasslands soil microbial communities.