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Ecological Importance

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Ants play an important role in the environment.

Ants turn and aerate the soil, allowing water and oxygen to reach plant roots. 

Ants take seeds down into their tunnel to eat the nutritious elaiosomes that are part of the seed.

Ant hill Ant with seed

These seeds often sprout and grow new plants (seed dispersal). 

Sedges Trillium

Ants eat a wide variety of organic material and provide food for many different organisms.

Click the image below to learn more about the ant's role in the food web.

C. Novaboracensis face