{"id":3065,"date":"2022-11-07T03:38:43","date_gmt":"2022-11-06T19:38:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/?p=3065"},"modified":"2023-09-19T20:10:57","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T12:10:57","slug":"what-would-happen-if-ants-went-extinct","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/what-would-happen-if-ants-went-extinct\/","title":{"rendered":"What Would Happen If Ants Went Extinct?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>If ants went extinct the whole ecosystem would be in disarray. While ants may be tiny and may thus seem irrelevant, they are actually very important for the ecosystem and contribute largely to environmental diversity, productivity, and nutrient and energy flow. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Should they disappear, many other organisms will be negatively affected and those that directly depend on them may face extinction as well.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, we\u2019ll look more into how ants benefit the ecosystem and discuss the likely effects of their extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/what-would-happen-if-ants-went-extinct.png\" alt=\"what would happen if ants went extinct\" class=\"wp-image-3072\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/what-would-happen-if-ants-went-extinct.png 600w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/what-would-happen-if-ants-went-extinct-200x300.png 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image by <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/users\/0fjd125gk87-51581\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=3505783\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">0fjd125gk87<\/a> from <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=3505783\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/what-would-happen-if-ants-went-extinct\/#Why_Are_Ants_So_Important_To_The_Ecosystem\" title=\"Why Are Ants So Important To The Ecosystem?\">Why Are Ants So Important To The Ecosystem?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/what-would-happen-if-ants-went-extinct\/#Soil_Aeration\" title=\"Soil Aeration\">Soil Aeration<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/what-would-happen-if-ants-went-extinct\/#Improving_Soil_Health_And_Quality\" title=\"Improving Soil Health And Quality\">Improving Soil Health And Quality<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/what-would-happen-if-ants-went-extinct\/#Pollination\" title=\"Pollination\">Pollination<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/what-would-happen-if-ants-went-extinct\/#Seed_Dispersal\" title=\"Seed Dispersal\">Seed Dispersal<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/what-would-happen-if-ants-went-extinct\/#Biological_Control\" title=\"Biological Control\">Biological Control<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/what-would-happen-if-ants-went-extinct\/#Serve_As_Food\" title=\"Serve As Food\">Serve As Food<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/what-would-happen-if-ants-went-extinct\/#Key_Bioindicators\" title=\"Key Bioindicators\">Key Bioindicators<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/what-would-happen-if-ants-went-extinct\/#Decomposition\" title=\"Decomposition\">Decomposition<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/what-would-happen-if-ants-went-extinct\/#What_Would_Happen_If_Ants_Went_Extinct\" title=\"What Would Happen If Ants Went Extinct?\">What Would Happen If Ants Went Extinct?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/what-would-happen-if-ants-went-extinct\/#Reduced_Soil_Quality\" title=\"Reduced Soil Quality\">Reduced Soil Quality<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/what-would-happen-if-ants-went-extinct\/#Weaker_Plants\" title=\"Weaker Plants&nbsp;\">Weaker Plants&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/what-would-happen-if-ants-went-extinct\/#Ecological_Imbalance\" title=\"Ecological Imbalance\">Ecological Imbalance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/what-would-happen-if-ants-went-extinct\/#Extinction\" title=\"Extinction&nbsp;\">Extinction&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/what-would-happen-if-ants-went-extinct\/#Can_We_Survive_Without_Ants\" title=\"Can We Survive Without Ants?\">Can We Survive Without Ants?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/what-would-happen-if-ants-went-extinct\/#Arent_Ants_Replaceable\" title=\"Aren\u2019t Ants Replaceable?\">Aren\u2019t Ants Replaceable?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/what-would-happen-if-ants-went-extinct\/#Are_Ants_In_Danger_Of_Extinction\" title=\"Are Ants In Danger Of Extinction?\">Are Ants In Danger Of Extinction?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/what-would-happen-if-ants-went-extinct\/#Summary\" title=\"Summary\">Summary<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Are_Ants_So_Important_To_The_Ecosystem\"><\/span>Why Are Ants So Important To The Ecosystem?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ecologists consider ants to be a keystone species given the impact that they have on regulating the ecosystem. They can be predators, ecosystem engineers, and play pretty much all the roles of symbiotic relationships and therefore, directly or indirectly support and affect other organisms. As such they provide a number of contributions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Soil_Aeration\"><\/span>Soil Aeration<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Many ant species dig and tunnel underground to <a href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/why-do-ants-build-mounds\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2656\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">build their nests<\/a>. In doing so they aerate the soil which allows for the better penetration of water, air, and nutrients to the plant roots. This in turn helps plants grow more vigorously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Improving_Soil_Health_And_Quality\"><\/span>Improving Soil Health And Quality<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As ants forage, they naturally bring organic matter into the soil as they bring food into their underground nests. When these organic matter decompose, they become natural fertilizers that nourish the soil and improve both soil health and quality. Similar to soil aeration, this results in the growth of healthier crops and plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pollination\"><\/span>Pollination<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/are-ants-pollinators-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2134\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/are-ants-pollinators-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/are-ants-pollinators-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/are-ants-pollinators-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/are-ants-pollinators.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image by <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/users\/pompi-2101529\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=1373582\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Anna Sulencka<\/a> from <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=1373582\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While ants aren\u2019t considered to be the best pollinators, they do still <a href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-pollinators\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2129\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">contribute as pollen vectors<\/a>. Ants regularly visit flowers and any pollen that attaches to their bodies may then get transported to other flowers. In fact some plant species such as the <em>Polygonum cascadence<\/em> and the <em>Conospermum undulatum<\/em>, are regularly pollinated by ants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Seed_Dispersal\"><\/span>Seed Dispersal<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Not only do ants help with germination, they\u2019re also considered to be a major force in seed dispersal. Biologists have found that there are more than 3000 species of flowering plants from different types of habitats that are dispersed by ants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Biological_Control\"><\/span>Biological Control<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As predators, ants can provide biological control of different pests that affect crops and plants. For example, farmers from northern Australia use ants to control mosquitoes, bugs, and moths which cause damage to cashew trees and negatively affect harvest quality. They\u2019re also used by coconut growers to prevent immature nut fall caused by plant bugs and caterpillars.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Serve_As_Food\"><\/span>Serve As Food<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/are-ants-edible-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"are ants edible\" class=\"wp-image-2246\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/are-ants-edible-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/are-ants-edible-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/are-ants-edible-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/are-ants-edible.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Honey_Ants_(7344580116).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">avilasal<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CC BY 2.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Ants aren\u2019t the only ones doing the eating. They also serve as food for a number of animals such as birds, mammals, and other insects. They\u2019re even consumed by us humans and are in fact considered delicacies in certain parts of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Bioindicators\"><\/span>Key Bioindicators<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Given their abundance and close connection to the ecosystem, ants are often used to <a href=\"https:\/\/dlc.dlib.indiana.edu\/dlc\/bitstream\/handle\/10535\/2854\/using_ants_as_bioindicators.pdf?sequence=1&amp;isAllowed=y\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/dlc.dlib.indiana.edu\/dlc\/bitstream\/handle\/10535\/2854\/using_ants_as_bioindicators.pdf?sequence=1&amp;isAllowed=y\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">determine the health and quality of an ecosystem<\/a> or habitat. Changes in the richness of ants species and structural composition have been shown to reflect general ecological change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, a study has shown that the nest structure for <em>Lasius niger<\/em> and <em>Myrmica rubra<\/em> ants vary depending on the level of anthropogenic stress. The higher the level of pollution, the smaller the mounds of their nests while the number of underground nests grows. With this, the ratio of the mound versus the underground can then potentially be used as a bioindicator for level of pollution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Decomposition\"><\/span>Decomposition<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/do-ants-eat-worms-2-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2856\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/do-ants-eat-worms-2-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/do-ants-eat-worms-2-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/do-ants-eat-worms-2-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/do-ants-eat-worms-2.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Ants play a role in keeping the environment clean. As <a href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-decomposers-or-consumers\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2110\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">detritivores or decomposers<\/a>, ants break down organic waste matter and help prevent such waste build-up. More importantly, through the breaking down of organic waste, they help recycle nutrients and make them available to primary producers which in turn provide energy and nutrients to us and other animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Would_Happen_If_Ants_Went_Extinct\"><\/span>What Would Happen If Ants Went Extinct?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Are-Zombie-Ants-Real-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2058\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Are-Zombie-Ants-Real-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Are-Zombie-Ants-Real-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Are-Zombie-Ants-Real-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Are-Zombie-Ants-Real.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Given the different contributions they provide, it\u2019s quite plain to see what a disaster it will be for the ecosystem if ants go extinct. Should they be gone the ecosystem will suffer in the following ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reduced_Soil_Quality\"><\/span>Reduced Soil Quality<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Without ants, soil wouldn\u2019t be as healthy. Lack of aeration leads to deprivation of oxygen which slows down essential microbial activity in the soil. It may also lead to the development of certain toxins and disease. Additionally, soil will have less nutrients in general given there are no longer ants that take organic matter underground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Weaker_Plants\"><\/span>Weaker Plants&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Reduced soil quality leads to unhealthy plants. There are again the lesser nutrients that ants will be able to access, oxygen deprivation, and the diseases that develop due to poor soil, all of which, may lead to weaker plants or even plant death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ecological_Imbalance\"><\/span>Ecological Imbalance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ants are considered to be primary predators of many arthropods, hence the reason they\u2019re biological control agents. Without them, these other arthropods may grow to undesired numbers and therefore create a ripple effect that will affect other organisms as well.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, pest populations may grow largely and negatively affect crops and plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Extinction\"><\/span>Extinction&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/do-ants-have-muscles-2-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2938\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/do-ants-have-muscles-2-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/do-ants-have-muscles-2-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/do-ants-have-muscles-2-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/do-ants-have-muscles-2.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Leafcutter_ants.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Geoff Gallice from Gainesville, FL, USA<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CC BY 2.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s also the high likelihood that ants going extinct may lead to more extinctions. For example, the fungi that leafcutter ants cultivate have developed a relationship with such leafcutters that they can\u2019t survive without them. So if ants go extinct, they too shall follow.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Studies have found that the extinction of one species may lead to the extinction of others, even if the species involved <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedaily.com\/releases\/2012\/08\/120814213500.htm\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedaily.com\/releases\/2012\/08\/120814213500.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">don&#8217;t directly interact<\/a> with each other. So while organisms that depend solely or primarily on ants will be at most risk, even those that don\u2019t can be in danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_We_Survive_Without_Ants\"><\/span>Can We Survive Without Ants?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s difficult to tell how the loss of ants will ultimately affect us humans or if we can survive without them. I\u2019d wager that we can survive given our ability to adapt to situations and create solutions. However, there is certainly a possibility that we will follow ants to extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If it comes to a point where many other organisms go extinct as well, we may end up having less and less resources such as food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Arent_Ants_Replaceable\"><\/span>Aren\u2019t Ants Replaceable?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/do-ants-have-brains-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"do ants have brains\" class=\"wp-image-2534\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/do-ants-have-brains-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/do-ants-have-brains-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/do-ants-have-brains-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/do-ants-have-brains.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image by <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/users\/monsterpong09-10463651\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=4958495\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">monsterpong09<\/a> from <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=4958495\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There are other organisms that contribute to the ecosystem in some of the ways that ants do. For example, earthworms do their part in loosening and aerating soil. There are also bees which help with pollination, and many other animals that can try and fill-in for ants and the contributions they provide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, is it actually a big deal if they go extinct given that these other organisms exist? Well, it\u2019s true that these organisms can somehow provide similar contributions as ants. However, if we take into consideration just how many ants there are in the world, then there\u2019s no way for these organisms to replace them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Scientists believe that there are a total of 20 quadrillion ants on Earth. They outnumber us 2.5 million to one and they make up 20% of the world\u2019s biomass. Think of the impact that all these ants have on the environment and what would happen if they somehow ceased to exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_Ants_In_Danger_Of_Extinction\"><\/span>Are Ants In Danger Of Extinction?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The numbers can be deceiving. While it would seem that ants are by no means in any trouble given their enormous population, they are most definitely in danger of extinction. Many ant species have already gone extinct, and as of now there are hundreds of ant species currently on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.antwiki.org\/wiki\/Conservation_status\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.antwiki.org\/wiki\/Conservation_status\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IUCN red list of threatened species<\/a>, three of which are classified to be critically endangered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The extinction or threatened status of certain ant species can be mostly attributed to human activity. Pollution, the use of pesticides, urbanization, and the general exploitation of their habitats, all lead to the decline in ant population. Other factors such as climate change and the addition of introduced or alien species also contribute to such decline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If we don\u2019t put effort into the conservation of ants and many other animals, then we could expect that unimaginable number of 20 quadrillion to go lower and lower until it eventually reaches zero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Summary\"><\/span>Summary<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To summarize, if ants were to become extinct then we and the organisms of the world will most likely suffer. They contribute so much to the ecosystem that should they be gone, some if not many of these organisms that directly or indirectly depend on them are likely to go extinct as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As mentioned, the extinction of one species or in this case, one entire type of animal, can lead to others, and given the impact that ants have, there\u2019s no saying just how catastrophic of a ripple effect their extinction may cause.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If ants went extinct the whole ecosystem would be in disarray. While ants may be tiny and may thus seem irrelevant, they are actually very important for the ecosystem and contribute largely to environmental diversity, productivity, and nutrient and energy flow. Should they disappear, many other organisms will be negatively affected and those that directly&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3071,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3065"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3065"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3065\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3706,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3065\/revisions\/3706"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3071"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3065"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3065"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3065"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}