Abstract Ants are abundant in most of the world's terrestrial environments. They are energetic, strong for their size, numerous, and socially cooperative. They play many geomorphologically important roles. In particular, they construct mounds and subterranean galleries, create patterned ground, play a role in bioturbation, affect vegetation cover and soil properties (such as infiltration rate) and influence runoff and erosion. They also play roles in biogeochemical cycling and rock and mineral weathering. Here, we review and reanalyse data collected from over 80 studies on ant contributions to geomorphology from around the world. The clearest manifestation of the geomorphological role of ants is found in their various constructions, such as mounds. There can be hundreds or thousands of mounds per hectare, with a median density of 125 ha−1 recorded in the studies reviewed. The longevity of these features varies and some are stable while others are highly erodible. The construction of mounds and galleries causes bioturbation (pedoturbation), a role which ants share with termites, worms and many mammals. A median rate of 1.5 t ha−1 a−1 is derived from the studies reviewed. Ants also produce patterned ground through their effects on vegetation. The relationships between ant activity and runoff and erosion are complex and not consistent. Bioturbation of soil, tunnelling activity, the construction of underground chambers, galleries and macro-pores, the removal and/or accumulation of organic material, and changes in vegetation cover, are all mechanisms by which ants might modify soil infiltration characteristics. Because of their effect on soil infiltration rates, sediment provision and on vegetation cover, ants can have a profound influence on runoff and soil movement on slopes. Only a modest amount of work has been done to investigate the role that ants play in rock weathering. Ants are greatly affected by human activities (especially land cover changes), and some geomorphologically-active species have proved to be highly invasive. The response of ants to future climate changes needs further investigation.

中文翻译：

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蚂蚁作为地貌代理：一项全球评估

摘要 蚂蚁在世界上大部分的陆地环境中都很丰富。他们精力充沛，体型强壮，数量众多，而且善于社会合作。它们在地貌学上扮演着许多重要的角色。特别是，它们建造土丘和地下通道，创造有图案的地面，在生物扰动中发挥作用，影响植被覆盖和土壤特性（如入渗率）并影响径流和侵蚀。它们还在生物地球化学循环以及岩石和矿物风化中发挥作用。在这里，我们回顾并重新分析了从 80 多项关于蚂蚁对世界各地地貌学贡献的研究中收集的数据。蚂蚁的地貌作用的最明显表现是在它们的各种结构中，例如土墩。每公顷可能有数百或数千个土墩，在审查的研究中记录的中位数密度为 125 ha-1。这些特征的寿命各不相同，有些是稳定的，而有些则极易侵蚀。土墩和廊道的建造会引起生物扰动（土壤扰动），蚂蚁与白蚁、蠕虫和许多哺乳动物都有这种作用。1.5 t ha-1 a-1 的中位数率来自于审查的研究。蚂蚁还通过对植被的影响产生有图案的地面。蚂蚁活动与径流和侵蚀之间的关系复杂且不一致。土壤的生物扰动、隧道活动、地下室、廊道和大孔的建造、有机物质的去除和/或积累以及植被覆盖的变化，都是蚂蚁可能改变土壤渗透特性的机制。由于它们对土壤渗透率、沉积物供应和植被覆盖的影响，蚂蚁可以对斜坡上的径流和土壤运动产生深远的影响。只做了少量的工作来研究蚂蚁在岩石风化中的作用。蚂蚁受人类活动（尤其是土地覆盖变化）的影响很大，一些地貌活跃的物种已被证明具有高度入侵性。蚂蚁对未来气候变化的反应需要进一步研究。一些地貌活跃的物种已被证明具有高度入侵性。蚂蚁对未来气候变化的反应需要进一步研究。一些地貌活跃的物种已被证明具有高度入侵性。蚂蚁对未来气候变化的反应需要进一步研究。