Climate change has forced certain ant species out of their original habitats in Gregory Canyon near Boulder, Colorado, according to a new study published in the journal Ecology. Ants are sensitive to temperature fluctuations, making them a good marker to study the impact of climate change on ecosystems. The researchers sampled ant populations in the canyon in 2021 and 2022, compared to a study conducted more than six decades ago by CU Boulder entomologist Robert Gregg and his student John Browne. The team found that while the total number of ant species increased, some species had expanded their habitats while others had become less widespread or were undetected.
The team found that the composition of ant species in Gregory Canyon had become more similar across different environments and habitats. Twelve ant species were harder to find compared to six decades ago, potentially due to temperature changes or increased competition from other ant species that managed to expand their habitats. Ants are essential ecosystem engineers, playing roles in soil aeration, decomposition, seed dispersal, and pest control. Changes in ant biodiversity could have implications for ecosystem stability and functioning, as species disappearing can affect other organisms that rely on them.
The impact of changes in ant populations on the local ecosystem in Gregory Canyon remains unclear. However, the study adds to the evidence of an ongoing “insect apocalypse” globally, with insect populations declining by 45% in the last four decades. The monarch butterfly population in North America fell by 90% in the last 20 years, and one in five native bumblebees in Colorado is at risk. Species are changing their ranges in response to climate change, with some spreading and becoming winners while others are declining. Understanding how communities of species reshuffle due to climate change could impact ecosystem functioning.
The study conducted in Gregory Canyon provides a unique opportunity to isolate the impacts of climate change from other factors such as land use change, as the canyon has remained largely unaffected by human activity. Ant species that foraged across a broader range of temperatures are now more widespread, while those foraging across a narrower range have become rare. This shift in ant populations could potentially alter the local ecosystems in Gregory Canyon, highlighting the broader implications of climate change on biodiversity.
As species redistribute in response to climate change, the reshuffling of communities could have implications for ecosystem functioning. Understanding the changes in ant biodiversity in Gregory Canyon and other habitats can help researchers grasp the broader impact of climate change on ecosystems. The findings from this study contribute to the growing body of evidence showing the effects of climate change on insect populations globally, emphasizing the need for conservation efforts to protect biodiversity and ecosystem stability in the face of ongoing environmental challenges.
