Variation in the rates of biomass removal by soil macro-fauna in different land uses at Rashad, South Kordofan, Sudan

Abstract

One of the main implications of reducing biodiversity is the loss or decline of ecosystem function. We have previously seen in the Rashad location that agricultural practices have a lower effect on ant biodiversity. However, how they affect the environmental services, they provide is unclear. The main objective of this study was to evaluate whether the conversion of native areas into agricultural systems affects the removal of biomass carried out by ants, an important ecosystem function linked to decomposition and predation. We sampled three transects from (the Rashad district). Each sampling plot consisted of a grid of 12 pitfall traps filled with sardine baits (simulating animal organisms) and bananas (as attractive vegetable resources). In addition, grass seeds (Sorghum bicolor) were applied in both natural (Campo, Kubos, and forest) and agricultural settings (soy monoculture, pastures, and organic agriculture). The Results showed that ant’s removal was highest in sardine with an average of 87.3g (σ ± 23.8), followed by banana (average of 70.5g, σ ± 31.5) and lowest in the seed (mean of 7.8g, σ ± 7.3) (highest p = 0.017). Only the soy monoculture regions showed the lowest levels of sardine removed, indicating an effect associated with the kind of land use. Because little biomass is eliminated in both natural and agricultural settings, no effect of the seeds bait has been observed. As for the banana bait, the data suggested a redundancy effect with another group of macro-fauna). Our results suggest that there is a redundancy effect with another group of macrofauna. However, macrofauna biomass (excluding ants) does not explain this biomass removal. In addition, it detected no impact of ant species composition on removed biomass. The reduction of sardine and banana biomass was correlated with ant richness, indicating that the effects on ecosystem function depend on the particularities of each evaluated role (such as resource type), the type of land use, and the ant richness in the study area.