TITLE:
Impact of Increased Soil Nitrogen Levels on Pogonomyrmex occidentalis Mortality
AUTHORS:
Ritwik Singh
KEYWORDS:
Fertilizer, Ants, Pollution, Nitrogen
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.13 No.9,
September
11,
2025
ABSTRACT: Ants serve critical ecological functions, acting as both prey and predator, and contributing to the decomposition of organic material. This study examines how varying soil nitrogen levels affect the mortality of Western Harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex occidentalis). It was hypothesized that elevated nitrogen concentrations in soil would significantly reduce ant survival rates. The experiment was conducted in a controlled laboratory environment at High Technology High School, where all variables such as temperature, food, and water were held constant across groups, with soil nitrogen levels being the sole variable. Ant mortality was recorded over a four-week period. Statistical analyses, including ANOVA and multiple t-tests, revealed significant differences in mortality between the control and nitrogen-treated groups. All experimental groups receiving nitrogen fertilizer exhibited 100% mortality by the end of the study. While the data were statistically significant, high mortality in the early weeks suggests that nitrogen concentrations may have been excessively high. Future research should focus on evaluating the effects of lower fertilizer concentrations to gain a more nuanced understanding of nitrogen’s impact on subterranean insect populations. This research highlights the potential ecological risks posed by nitrogen-heavy fertilizers and underscores the need for more sustainable agricultural practices to mitigate environmental harm.