20 times higher than previously estimated
Researchers say this figure is two to 20 times higher than previously estimated global population of ants. Study co-author Mark Wong wrote in Phys.org that the study represents an evidence-based first guess. The team had to work hard on the field for this research. The researchers collected ant samples using trap methods. In total, the world’s ants contain 12 million tons of carbon biomass, the study found.
Ants are very important part of nature
The biomass of ants is larger than the combined biomass of wild birds and mammals. This is equivalent to one fifth of the total biomass of humans. Ants are a very important part of this nature and they play an important role in maintaining the level of air in the soil. They are an important part of the food chain and carry seeds from one place to another, thereby maintaining the balance of nature. You will be surprised to know that there are 15,700 species and subspecies of ants in the world.