Harvester ants are a major component of western rangeland. Little is known about ants' role in soil water dynamics. Annual patterns of soil moisture under mounds of the harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex owyheei, Cole) were studied in southeastern Idaho. Soil moisture at 20-cm intervals to a depth of 100 cm was estimated monthly with a neutron probe. Between 60 and 100 cm, higher levels of moisture were found below mounds than in control areas. The amount of water added to the soil during spring recharge was greater in control areas at 20 cm but greater under ant mounds at depths below 60 cm. Under ant mounds, approximately 1.3 cm more water was added to the soil between 60 and 100 cm. This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020
Scholarly peer-reviewed articles published by the Society for Range Management. Access articles on a rolling-window basis from vol. 1, 1948 up to 5 years from the current year. Formerly Journal of Range Management (JRM). More recent content is available by subscription from SRM.