Impact of Invasive Ants on Decomposer Communities at Mpala Research Centre

Dec 18, 2025

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This study by Patrick "Poopy Pat" Milligan and Caroline Stone (2014) investigates the effects of an invasive ant species, Pheidole megacephala, on decomposer diversity at the Mpala Research Centre. The experimental design encompassed six site pairs, utilizing 312 dung samples and 624 pitfall traps to measure species diversity. Preliminary results indicate a significant decline in species diversity, with dung samples showing 16.5% and pitfall traps showing a 22.4% reduction in invaded areas. The findings raise important questions about the ecological impact of invasive species on nutrient cycling.

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Impact of Invasive Ants on Decomposer Communities at Mpala Research Centre

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Everybody Poops… Patrick “Poopy Pat” Milligan -or- “Cascade effects of an invasive ant species on decomposers of the Mpala Research Centre environs”
Pheidolemegacephala Caroline Stone 2014
Decomposers!
Experimental Design • 6 site pairs • 312 dung samples • 624 pitfall traps • Too much poo!
Results (so far…) • Dung Samples: 16.5% lower species diversity in invaded areas • Pitfall Traps: 22.4% lower species diversity in invaded areas • Mass Lost per Day • 33.97% lost in uninvaded areas • 19.43% lost in invaded areas
Was it worth it?