Fellowship Year:
2026
Degree:
MEM
Research Country:
United States
Research Continent:
North America
Project Title:
Evaluating ant nests as hotspots of soil organic carbon in southern Florida
Abstract:
This study investigates whether active ant nests in southern Florida function as biogeochemical hotspots of soil organic carbon cycling, a largely overlooked component of ecosystem carbon dynamics. Using paired soil samples from active nests, legacy nests and adjacent soil plots in and around Ocala National Forest, the project examines how ant nesting activity influences soil carbon storage and turnover across key organic matter fractions. Embedded within a larger NSF regional survey, the research aims to determine whether ants function as ecosystem engineers that substantially alter soil organic carbon dynamics.