Effects of activities of ants (Camponotus japonicus) on soil moisture cannot be neglected in the northern Loess Plateau

摘要: Abstract Ants can create abundant and continuous soil macropores by burrowing their nests. The hydrological processes in ant nests for different types the effects of activities on water evaporation are unclear. In this study, we assessed (Camponotus japonicus) preferential flow loam sand soils evaporation. First, 12 plots with without ants were selected measurements field. Second, 200 worker queen introduced to abandoned cropland plots, comprehensive moisture down 340 cm measured using neutron probes. Third, at Shenmu Erosion Environment Research Station, 18 iron buckets (20 cm diameter, 20 cm high) filled disturbed soil, a number was used assess infiltration rate areas nest approximately 20 times higher than that no-nest areas. Moreover, dyeing depths 47 ± 4.6 34 ± 1.5 cm, which significantly greater those (13 ± 2.7 23 ± 2.3 cm). Ant reached depth 60 cm existed between 0 120 cm deep. moving high “homemade aggregates” (1.6 ± 0.18 mm diameter) onto surface, reduced improved around increasing rainfall reducing evaporation, increased variation distribution profile may benefit general restoration vegetation Loess Plateau.