Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

5-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Agricultural, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences

First Advisor

Dr. Robin Choudhury

Second Advisor

Dr. Hannah Penn

Third Advisor

Dr. Engil Pereira

Abstract

Harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex sp.) are omnivorous ants native to Texas and are the main food source for the threatened Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum). Little research has been conducted on harvester ants in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) and their interactions with their environment. For this purpose, a variety of experiments were conducted to better understand these interactions and preferences. In CHAPTER I, suburban harvester ants were exposed commonly used cover crop seeds in the LRGV and inoculated seeds via seed depots over the course of 24 hours. We found that harvester ants do have preferences for some seeds over others and are impartial to the addition of inoculum. In CHAPTER II, spatial analysis, elevation, impervious surfaces, and soil moisture were analyzed and compared between areas with and without ant colonies. We found that ant colonies were significantly clustered together within this landscape. Within the larger landscape, elevation but not impervious surface was a significant factor in colony placement. Within the subset area soil moisture was not an important predictor. Determining the specific conditions harvester ant colonies choose to reside in could help citizens take proper measures to reduce the likelihood of colony establishment on their property.

Comments

Copyright 2022 Lilly V. Elliott. All Rights Reserved.

https://go.openathens.net/redirector/utrgv.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/harvester-ant-em-pogonomyrmex-sp-seed-preferences/docview/2711886438/se-2?accountid=7119

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