@article{fdi:010088927,
  title = {{E}xperimental evidence that increased surface temperature affects bioturbation by ants},
  author = {{I}barra, {F}. {G}. and {J}ouquet, {P}ascal and {B}ottinelli, {N}icolas and {B}ultelle, {A}ng{\'e}lique and {M}onnin, {T}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {1. {A}nts are important bioturbators that actively produce biopores and move soil particles. {T}hey could be particularly affected by global warming as they are ectotherms. {N}evertheless, they can indirectly regulate their temperature, through changes in their circadian cycles and the architecture of their nests (e.g. digging deep nests or using insulating materials). {N}est architecture has been considered an expanded functional trait of ant colonies and thus sensitive to environmental changes such as increasing temperatures. {T}his work aimed to study the nest architecture of ants as a functional trait and its effects on soil bioturbation. {W}e hypothesized that, when exposed to increased surface temperatures, ants would increase their excavation activities, build deeper nests and alter the layout of chambers to maintain their preferred temperature and humidity, thus enhancing soil porosity. 2. {W}e allowed 17 young {L}asius niger ant colonies to excavate nests in soil columns exposed to three surface temperatures (mild, n = 5; medium, n = 6; and high, n = 6) for 100 days. {W}e measured the amount of soil excavated weekly and took {X}-ray scans of the soil column on {D}ays 7, 14, 28, and 88 to characterize the three-dimensional structure of the nests (depth, shape, volume of chambers and tunnels). {W}e then collected the colonies and measured their growth during the experiment, and the size and weight of workers. 3. {A}nts reacted to surface temperature. {C}olonies exposed to medium and high temperatures excavated larger and deeper nests than those exposed to mild temperature. {N}ests excavated under high and medium temperatures had the same maximal depth, but chambers were located deeper in the former, which were further characterized by the refiling of some of the upper chambers. {C}olonies grew well in all treatments, although less under mild temperature. {T}hey produced normal-sized workers despite differences in surface temperature. {O}verall, these results suggest that ants exposed to higher temperatures live in deeper chambers. 4. {T}his study shows that surface temperature affects ant nest architecture, confirming its status as extended phenotype and highlighting its flexibility over time, which has in turn consequences on soil porosity.},
  keywords = {ant nest architecture ; bioturbation ; global warming ; high temperature ; {L}asius niger ; {X}-ray tomography ; {EUROPE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {A}nimal {E}cology},
  volume = {[{E}arly access]},
  numero = {},
  pages = {[14 p.]},
  ISSN = {0021-8790},
  year = {2023},
  DOI = {10.1111/1365-2656.14040},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010088927},
}