Features of nitrogen and carbon transformation in nests of soil ants

Soil ants (Lasius niger, L. flavus, Formica cunicularia and Tetramorium caespitum) have a significant influence on the processes of organic matter transformation in the soil, including the most important biophilic elements, nitrogen and carbon, which is reflected in the accumulation and their vertical redistribution within an anthill profile. The amount of nitrogen and carbon in nests of different ant species was significantly higher than in control soil, where it decreased lower in the profile, while in ant nests the content of the elements increased with time. Microbial biomass is an important indicator that affects the accumulation and transformation of biophilic elements. It was found to be higher in anthills than in the control soil. The activity of nitrogen fixation and denitrification in the soil of anthills where the main activity of ants occurs was higher than in the control.