Testing the effects of ants and termites on crop yield in an arid part of Australia, this study showed “that ants and termites increase wheat yield by 36% from increased soil water infiltration due to their tunnels and improved soil nitrogen” [Evans 2011: 1]. The authors conclude: “Our results suggest that ants and termites have similar functional roles to earthworms, and that they may provide valuable ecosystem services in dryland agriculture, which may become increasingly important for agricultural sustainability in arid climates” [Evans 2011: 1].
Ants and termites have similar functional roles to earthworms, and . . . they may provide valuable ecosystem services in dryland agriculture, which may become increasingly important for agricultural sustainability in arid climates [Evans 2011: 1]. |
Evans, Theodore, et al, 2011, Ants and termites increase crop yield in a dry climate, Nature Communications 2:262, https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms1257.