This astronomical number – two to 20 times higher than previous estimates – corresponds to a total biomass of 12 megatons, or millions of tons (the weight of carbon).

The biomass of ants is greater than all the birds and mammals of our planet combinedthe biomass of which is estimated at 2 and 7 megatons, respectively, which is about 20% of human biomass.

In fact, it should be taken into account that there are probably many more ants, as scientists necessarily based their estimates on ants seen on the ground, not those that live mostly in trees or underground.. In addition, statistics for Africa and North Asia are relatively limited.

Researchers from Germany and Hong Kong, led by biologists Sabine Nuten and Patrick Schultheiss from the German Julius Maximilian University in Wurstburg, made a corresponding publication in the journal of the US National Academy of Sciences (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences – PNAS). ) analyzed data from 489 studies that measured ant densities in different parts of the world. They then made global calculations based on local data.

“Anyone who has seen ants and figured out how many there are probably finally wondering how many there are in total is a question that worries people,” Schultheis said.

There are 15,700 known species and subspecies of ants, which often play a vital role in ecosystems. for seed dispersal, processing and increasing nutrient availability by mixing and moving the soil (they move up to 13 tons of soil per hectare, i.e. ten acres), the food they make up for various animals, etc. C on the other hand, they also have negative consequences, as some invasive species can disrupt local biodiversity and cause significant damage.

Ants live almost everywhere in the world, with the exception of the polar regions. Their highest density per square meter of land falls on the tropics and subtropics. Forests and drylands are home to most species, while ants are much less common in areas with heavy human presence.

Source: RES-IPE