Foraging Activity of the Western Harvester Ant 1 in the Shortgrass Plains Ecosystem 2

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Abstract
Activity times of Pogonomyrmex occidentalis (Cresson) were found to vary with soil surface temperatures. Polynomial equations describe the relationship between the number of foraging ants leaving the colony and surface temperatures. Thirty-nine percent of forage particles brought into the colony were seeds and 24% were litter. The remainder consisted of dead insect material, insect prey, fecal matter, and rocks being brought in for mound construction. Studies conducted on populations in lightly- and heavily-grazed pastures showed no significant differences in the rate of forage extraction, foraging distance, time per foraging trip, or availability of forage (seeds). The ants removed about 2% of the seed biomass available to them.

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