““You So Crazy!”You So Crazy!”

Paratrechina longicornusParatrechina longicornus (Crazy Ant) (Crazy Ant) Exchange from Biosphere 2 to Exchange from Biosphere 2 to

Surrounding AreaSurrounding Area

SEE-U 2000SEE-U 2000

SEE-U 2000: B2CSEE-U 2000: B2C

Onamia, Taylor, Amelia, Nicole, Angela, Tim, Don

And, James!

Introduction to Crazy AntsIntroduction to Crazy Ants

• Paratrechina longicornusParatrechina longicornus– Introduced species from India or AfricaIntroduced species from India or Africa– Highly adaptable to various living conditionsHighly adaptable to various living conditions– Characterized by erratic movements and Characterized by erratic movements and

unusually long antennaunusually long antenna– Accidentally introduced into Biosphere 2 in Accidentally introduced into Biosphere 2 in

1991, crowding out all other ant species1991, crowding out all other ant species– To this date, the Crazy Ants are the To this date, the Crazy Ants are the

dominant insects in all the B2C biomesdominant insects in all the B2C biomes

QuestionsQuestions

• Is there an exchange of Crazy Ants between Biosphere 2 and surrounding area? How do they enter?

• Do the Crazy Ants change the total amount of biomass and liquids in Biosphere 2 in a given time?

QuestionsQuestions

• What is the influx rate of the total What is the influx rate of the total biomass carried into B2C by Crazy Ants?biomass carried into B2C by Crazy Ants?

• How much additional biomass is brought How much additional biomass is brought into B2C via Crazy Ants?into B2C via Crazy Ants?

AssumptionsAssumptions

• Crazy Ants enter Biosphere 2 once a dayCrazy Ants enter Biosphere 2 once a day

• Rate of entrance is constantRate of entrance is constant

• Time of day, season, and conditions do Time of day, season, and conditions do not affect ratenot affect rate

• Each ant is capable of carrying an Each ant is capable of carrying an equivalent amount of biomass and liquidequivalent amount of biomass and liquid

• All entrances into B2C were locatedAll entrances into B2C were located

MethodologyMethodology

• Entry points are enumerated by visual Entry points are enumerated by visual observationobservation

• Engorged, normal, and foraging ants are Engorged, normal, and foraging ants are counted during ten 30-minute periodscounted during ten 30-minute periods– Engorged and normal ants are collected, frozen, Engorged and normal ants are collected, frozen,

and weighedand weighed– Biomass carried by foraging ants is collected Biomass carried by foraging ants is collected

and weighedand weighed

ResultsResults

• Engorged ants are 159% the weight of normal antsEngorged ants are 159% the weight of normal ants• Engorged ants comprise 29.5% of the returning foragersEngorged ants comprise 29.5% of the returning foragers• There were 24 entry holes into B2CThere were 24 entry holes into B2C Total estimated biomass entering B2c per year equals 6.37 Total estimated biomass entering B2c per year equals 6.37

kg.kg. Total estimated liquid weight entering B2C per year = Total estimated liquid weight entering B2C per year =

37.96 kg.37.96 kg. Total estimated number of individuals entering B2C per Total estimated number of individuals entering B2C per

year = 131.69 millionyear = 131.69 million = Gross underestimates= Gross underestimates

Total BiomassTotal Biomass

Total Amount of Biomass (mg) Entering Biosphere 2 per Year

0

5000000

10000000

15000000

20000000

25000000

30000000

35000000

40000000

Liquid weight(mg) Biomass (mg)

Bio

mas

s (m

g)

Series1

Rate of EntryRate of Entry

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Engorged Not engorged

Crop Status

Average number of ants of differing crop status through 36 counts

Engorged

Not engorged

ConclusionsConclusions

• Biosphere 2 is greatly impacted by the influx of Biosphere 2 is greatly impacted by the influx of biomass and liquid brought in by the Crazy biomass and liquid brought in by the Crazy AntsAnts

• The exchange between Biosphere 2 and its The exchange between Biosphere 2 and its surroundings is not limited to gas-exchangesurroundings is not limited to gas-exchange

Fin!