Ant nests differentially affect soil chemistry across elevational gradients

Abstract Ants alter soil moisture and nutrient distributions during foraging nest construction. Here, we investigated how the effects of ants on vary with elevation. We compared moisture, carbon, nitrogen levels in samples taken both within nests nearby (control) two subterranean ant species. Using a paired design, sampled 17 sites along elevation gradients California mountain ranges ( Formica francoeuri San Jacinto mountains sibylla Sierra Nevada). observed an interaction between carbon composition each range. At lower elevations, had amounts than control soil, but at higher soil. However, our sampling method may only breach interior some environments. The did not show any elevational patterns either likely modulate properties differently across environmental gradients, testing this effect must account for variable architecture other climate landscape differences diverse habitats.