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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThough ants are often seen as an annoyance, they are actually extremely beneficial. Let\u2019s take a look at some of the effects we would experience if ants were to go extinct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Soil Aeration Would Be Affected<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The term soil aeration has to do with the small air bubbles and hollow pockets in the soil that keep it light and loose. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most ants create impressive networks of tunnels through the soil. In doing so, they improve soil aeration, which has several benefits.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Aerated soil drains better because water can pass through it more easily. As ants create their tunnels, they move bits of soil and decaying matter around, improving the soil\u2019s overall quality by redistributing the minerals and nutrients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If ants were to go extinct, the soil wouldn\u2019t be as well-aerated as it is now. This would affect crop growth, as the soil quality would go down, roots wouldn\u2019t be able to breathe as well, and most importantly, plants would not receive as much water and nutrients as they need. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ants improve soil fertility by dragging leaves and plant matter down into their tunnels. Some of this plant matter they eat; the rest eventually begins to decay, adding valuable nutrition to the soil and improving its overall quality.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Some types of ants also support and assist with decaying animals and insects as well. They carry off bits of the carcass, distributing it over a large area, helping it break down more quickly, and adding more nutrients to the soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If ants went extinct, soil quality would go down and plants wouldn\u2019t grow as well as they do now because the soil simply wouldn\u2019t be as fertile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many ants also eat small organisms and insects that are harmful to crops. Some even eat insects many times larger than themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is part of the natural progression of life inside the ecosystems in which ants live. If ants weren\u2019t eating these insects and organisms, their numbers would increase and they could become even greater pests than they are now.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If ants were to go extinct, you could expect the numbers of many other kinds of insects to start going up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ants are a foundational part of the food chain. They keep pests at a minimum and help improve soil quality so that plants, including crops we depend on, will grow well.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n More than that, ants even help with seed distribution. They frequently carry the seeds of different kinds of plants into their tunnels, where the seeds often begin to sprout because of the improved soil quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many animals and insects eat ants as one of their major food sources. If the food source dies, so will the creatures that depend on that food source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If ants went extinct, plants would not grow as well and many creatures would starve from losing their food source. These changes would have a snowball effect that would eventually begin to impact the food supply of humans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Check out this video to learn more about why ants are so important.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSoil Would Be Less Fertile<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Pest Insects Would Increase<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Food Chain Could Collapse<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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