The significance of ant-hills in depressed areas of the Great Chaco

Abstract

Ant-hills of Camponotus punctulatus (Mayr.) are common in Chaquenian depressed areas. We studied density, spatial distribution, shape and size of ant-hills in the Submeridional Lowlands of the Chaco. As an average there are 500 ant-hills/Ha that are conical mounds 0.62m high covered with vegetation. Their density increases in relatively high soils, they are taller the lowest the soil, and tend to be uniformly distributed. They seem to be a flood escape mechanism of the ant colony, and are a major disturbance that has an effect on vegetation pattern and floristic richness.