Ant community composition defines nest mound dynamics across successional stages in desert restoration

Abstract

Ants play critical roles as ecosystem engineers in desert environments. This study investigates how ant community composition and diversity influence mound morphology and spatial distribution across a succession of revegetated areas in the Tengger Desert, China. We examined four stages of revegetation—5 years (5a), 8 years (8a), 34 years (34a), and 57 years (57a)—representing different stages in the successional process. Using a combination of sampling techniques, we found that ant abundance peaked in intermediate stages (8 years), while α and β diversity increased linearly with succession. Mound density and size decreased significantly after 34 years, and spatial distribution shifted from aggregated patterns in early and intermediate stages to a uniform distribution in the later stage (57 years). Notably, β diversity and the abundance of the dominant species, Formica cunicularia, were key drivers of these changes. This study highlights the importance of β diversity in influencing ecosystem engineering processes during long-term successional stages. These findings provide a theoretical basis for future restoration strategies that integrate ant community dynamics in desertified ecosystems.