Impact of Imported Fire Ants on Mississippi Soils Table 1. Locations, soils, dimensions, and spatial densities of mounds of various ant species. Species Location Soil Height Diameter Mounds Surface Reference in cm in cm no./a no./ha % Camponotus intrepidus Austrailia Yellow podzolic 8 20 10-49 26-124 2.2 5.4 0.01 Cowan et al. 1985 Formica cinerea montana Wisconsin, U. S. Typic Argiudolls 6 15 15 37 620 1531 1.7 Baxter and Hole 1967 Formica exsectoides Wisconsin, U. S. Typic Hapludalf 15 37 43 110 10 25 - Salem and Hole 1968 Formica fusca B.C., Canada Typic Dystrochrepts - - - - 466 1150 6-7 Wiken et al. 1976 Formica fusca New York, U. S. Aeric Ochraqualfs - - 10-33 25-84 44 109 - Levan and Stone 1983 Formica spp. Pogonomyrmex spp. Western U. S. - 14 36 36 91 7 18 2 Scott 1951 Iridomyrmex purpureus Austrailia Sandstone ridgetops 9 23 63x49 160x125 - - - Cowan et al. 1985 Lasius spp. Myrmica spp. Poland Sandy and silty alluvial and dune soils 1-4 3-11 3-12 8-30 400-800 1000-2000 0.15-0.75 Czerwinski et al. 1971 Pogonomyrmex occidentalis Colorado, U.S. Ustillic Haplargids 7 17 33 84 16 40 2 Mandel and Sorenson 1982 Pogonomyrmex occidentalis New Mexico, U.S. Sandy soil - - - - 6,7 14,17 1 Carlson and Whitford 1991 Table 2. Soil series, classifications, site locations, and ant species involved in the study. Series Classification County, location Species Figure 6 Symbol Grenada Fine-silty, mixed, active, thermic Glossic Fragiudalfs Hinds, Sec. 9, T. 4 N., R. 3 W. S. invicta A Malbis Fine-loamy, siliceous, thermic Plinthic Paleudults Pearl River, Sec. 29, T. 4 S., R. 16 W. S. invicta B Sharkey Very-fine, smectitic, nonacid, thermic Vertic Haplaquepts Washington, Sec. 35, T. 19 N., R. 7 W. S. invicta C Malbis Fine-loamy, siliceous, thermic Plinthic Paleudults Pearl River, Sec. 31, T. 4 S. R. 16 W. S. invicta D Vaiden Very-fine, montmorillonitic, thermic Aquic Dystruderts Monroe, Sec. Sec. 1, T. 15 S., R. 6 E. S. richteri? E Alligator Very-fine, montmorillonitic, thermic Alic Dystraquerts Quitman, Sec. 26, T. 7 S., R. 10 W. S. invicta? F Atwood Fine-silty, mixed, thermic Typic Paleudalfs Ponotoc, Sec. 9, T. 11 S., R. 3 E. S. richteri? G Falkner Fine-silty, siliceous, active, thermic Aquic Paleudalfs Ponotoc, Sec. 7, T. 11 S., R. 3 E. S. richteri? H Loring Fine-silty, mixed, active, thermic Oxyaquic Fragiudalfs Marshall, Sec. 17, T. 3 S., R. 2 W. S. richteri? I Oktibehha Very-fine, smectitic, thermic Chromic Dystruderts Oktibbeha, Sec. 16, T. 19 N., R. 15 E. S. richteri? J Sumter Fine-silty, carbonatic, thermic Rendollic Eutrochrepts Oktibbeha, Sec. 16, T. 19 N., R. 15 E. S. richteri? K Loring Fine-silty, mixed, active, thermic Oxyaquic Fragiudalfs Hinds, Sec. 8, T. 4 N., R. 3 W. S. invicta L Kipling Fine, smectitic, thermic Vertic Paleudalfs Oktibbeha, Sec. 26, T. 19 N., R. 15 E. S. richteri? M Table 3. Site symbols and characteristics of mounds used for the structural study.1 Site Drainage class Surface texture Slope Vegetation Mound dimensions2 ID Height LBD SBD in cm in cm in cm A Moderately well-drained Silt loam 5-8% Grass pasture 1 2 3 7.5 6.3 9.8 19 16 25 19.7 15.0 20.5 50 38 52 16.5 13.0 16.5 42 33 42 B Well- drained Sandy loam 0-5% 1 m pines, grasses 1 2 3 7.1 5.1 7.1 18 13 18 33.1 16.1 16.9 84 41 43 28.0 16.1 15.0 71 41 38 C Poorly drained Clay 0-1% Weeds 1 2 3 9.1 7.5 7.5 23 19 19 29.9 22.0 24.8 76 56 63 26.4 18.5 20.5 67 47 52 1Site symbols are referenced to Figure 6 and Table 3. 2ID=Identification number; LBD=Long basal dimension; and SBD=Short basal dimension. Table 4. Site symbols and characteristics of mounds used for Sites F-L.1 Site Drainage class Surface texture Slope Vegetation Mound dimensions2 ID Height LBD SBD in cm in cm in cm F Poorly drained Clay 0-1% 20-30 feet (6-9 m) pecan trees 15 38 35 89 35 89 G Well- drained Silt loam 2-5% Grass pasture 12 30 24 61 23 58 H Somewhat poorly drained Silt loam 2-5% Mowed grass 15 38 34 86 24 61 I Moderately well-drained Silt loam 5-8% 2-5% Mowed grass Weeds A B 6 15 15 38 17 36 43 91 17 32 43 81 J Well- drained Silt loam 0-3% Weeds, trees 9 23 21 53 21 53 K Moderately well-drained Loam 0-3% Weeds, trees 10 25 42 107 37 94 L Moderately well-drained Silt loam 0-3% Grass pasture A B 8 5 20 13 32 26 81 66 28 24 71 61 1Site symbols are referenced to Figure 6 and Table 3. 2ID=Identification number; LBD=Long basal dimension; and SBD=Short basal dimension. Table 5. Characteristics of channel networks found in mounds on three soil types.1 Malbis Grenada Sharkey % Area in channels 39 (±9) 55 (±4) 55 (±7) Channels/inch 1.4 (±0.3) 2.3 (±0.4) 1.8 (±0.4) Channel width (in) 0.25 (±0.05) 0.24 (±0.05) 0.4 (±0.1) Channel: wall width 0.5 (±0.2) 1.3 (±0.4) 1.9 (±0.4) 1Mean (±standard deviation) of six replicates of percentage of cross-sectional area occupied by channels, number of channels per inch of transect, channel width, and channel width to wall width ratio for channel networks in imported fire ant mounds on Malbis (Site B), Grenada (Site A), and Sharkey (Site C). Table 6. Mean bulk density of air-dried clods from crust of the mound, mound interior, and adjacent topsoil control on three soil types.1 Crust Mound Control g cm3 g cm3 g cm3 Malbis sandy loam 1.43 (±0.06) 1.44 (±0.07) 1.63 (±0.03) Grenada silt loam 1.0 (±0.1) 1.1 (±0.2) 1.51 (±0.03) Sharkey clay 1.1 (±0.2) 1.57 (±0.07) 1.78 (±0.07) 1Malbis soil is found at Site B, Grenada at Site A, and Sharkey at Site C. These means are based on three replicates (±standard deviation). Table 7. Mean weight of aggregates remaining from ant mound crusts, mound interiors, and control topsoil from three soil types after oscillation in water for 2-32 minutes. 1 Minutes 2 4 8 16 32 g g g g g Malbis2     Crust 1.6b 1.2b 1.1b 0.9b 0.6b     Mound 3.7a 3.3a 3.1a 2.8a 2.3a     Control 3.4a 2.8a 2.8a 3.0a 1.6a Grenda2     Crust 1.4b 0.8b 0.7b 0.4b 0.3c     Mound 2.9b 2.5ab 2.3ab 1.7a 1.5b     Control 3.9a 3.5a 3.2a 2.5a 1.9a Sharkey2     Crust 3.2a 3.0a 2.6b 2.2b 1.9c     Mound 4.1a 4.1a 3.9ab 3.8a 3.3b     Control 4.2a 4.2a 4.2a 3.9a 3.7a 1Malbis sandy loam is found at Site B, Grenada silt loam at Site A, and Sharkey clay at Site C. Measurements were taken after 5-gram samples were oscillated in water for 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 minutes. Means are based on three replicates. 2Means in same column and soil with same letter are not significantly different (a=0.05). Table 8. Capillary contact angle of mound crust, mound interior, and control topsoil materials on three soil types. 1 Malbis2 Grenada2 Sharkey2 degrees degrees degrees Crust 68 ab 69 b 81ab Mound 82 a 82 a 81 b Control 60 b 74 ab 85 a 1Malbis sandy loam is found at Site B, Grenada silt loam at Site A, and Sharkey clay at Site C. Means are based on three replicates. 2Means in same column and soil with same letter are not significantly different (a=0.05). Table 9. Percent clay and organic matter (OM), pH, extractable P, exchangeable K and Ca, and percent moisture in three formicarious (FP) and undisturbed (UP) pedons on Malbis sandy loam (Site D). 1,2 Depth (in) % Clay % OM pH P (mg kg) K (cmol kg) Ca (cmol kg) % Moisture FP UP FP UP FP UP FP UP FP UP FP UP FP UP 9-8 14.8 -- 1.99* -- 5.32 -- 26* -- 0.41 -- 1.57* -- 23.53 -- 8-6 18.6* -- 1.70* -- 5.07 -- 25 -- 0.32 -- 1.46* -- 22.34 -- 6-3 17.3* -- 1.85* -- 5.02 -- 30 -- 0.32 -- 1.63* -- 19.89 -- 3-0 16.0* -- 2.50* -- 4.77 -- 73 -- 0.31 -- 1.58* -- 21.08 -- 0-2 11.3* 5.0 3.39* 6.56 4.68 4.76 76 45 0.32* 0.17 1.87* 3.27 17.12 27.23 2-5 8.1 5.4 3.02 2.47 4.84* 5.50 47 17 0.33* 0.07 2.06 2.27 14.44 12.91 5-10 10.7 12.3 1.81 1.71 5.17 5.74 27 8 0.25 0.08 2.03 2.16 12.25 12.94 10-17 22.1 19.9 0.75 1.02 5.50 5.83 11 6 0.19 0.10 2.07 2.38 13.45 13.14 17-28 22.3 22.0 0.56 0.55 5.32 5.47 6 4 0.13 0.06 1.79 1.73 14.19 13.98 28-40 26.3 27.8 0.26 0.25 5.17 5.29 3 3 0.06* 0.03 1.25 1.23 14.29 13.87 1Measurements were made on June 27 and 28, 1996, 5 days after 1.9 inches (4.7 cm) of rain over 4 days. 2Means within a mound (above 0-2 inch depth) marked with asterisks are significantly different (a=0.05) from 0-2 inch depth of UP. Means below the mound marked with asterisks are significantly different (a =0.05) from equivalent depth in UP. Table 10. Percent clay and organic matter (OM), pH, extractable P, exchangeable K and Ca, and percent moisture in three formicarious (FP) and undisturbed (UP) pedons on Vaiden silt loam (Site E). 1,2 Depth (in) % Clay % OM pH P (mg kg) K (cmol kg) Ca (cmol kg) % Moisture FP UP FP UP FP UP FP UP FP UP FP UP FP UP 12-11.5 30.3* -- 4.40* -- 4.66 -- 68* -- 0.51* -- 10.33 -- 2.92* -- 11.5-8 33.2* -- 3.33* -- 4.48 -- 58* -- 0.46* -- 10.80 -- 5.59* -- 8-4 32.6* -- 3.17* -- 4.50 -- 54 -- 0.45* -- 10.42 -- 11.54* -- 4-0 32.4* -- 2.88* -- 4.67 -- 60 -- 0.51* -- 9.78 -- 14.26 -- 0-2 30.0* 16.1 3.42* 8.40 4.86 5.07 45* 13 0.41 0.27 9.89 9.72 16.43 16.93 2-4 26.6* 18.2 2.97 3.16 5.12 4.91 45* 5 0.36* 0.11 8.87 6.93 14.16 15.12 4-11 32.3 29.6 1.32 0.86 4.79 4.71 22* 5 0.16* 0.08 8.78 7.30 17.50 12.78 11-18 34.7 36.2 1.06 0.47 4.69 4.82 18* 6 0.14 0.09 8.75 7.75 16.84 19.46 18-26 36.7 38.3 0.58 0.37 4.72 4.74 9 4 0.11 0.10 9.60 8.91 21.09 20.78 26-34 39.6 41.0 0.46* 0.32 4.72 4.76 5 4 0.10 0.11 10.22 11.01 20.83 23.88 34-40 43.5 43.7 0.33* 0.27 4.83 5.00 3 3 0.11* 0.12 12.93 13.80 23.98 25.51 1Measurements were taken on July 3, 1996, 14 days after 0.8 inch (2 cm) of rain. 2Means within a mound (above 0-2 inch depth) marked with asterisks are significantly different (a=0.05) from 0-2 inch depth of UP. Means below the mound marked with asterisks are significantly different (a=0.05) from the equivalent depth in UP. Table 11. Percent clay and organic matter (OM), pH, extractable P, exchangeable K and Ca, and percent moisture in formicarious (FP) and undisturbed (UP) pedons on Falkner silt loam (Site H). 1 Depth (in) % Clay % OM pH P (mg/kg) K (cmol/kg) Ca (cmol/kg) % Moisture FP UP FP UP FP UP FP UP FP UP FP UP FP UP 15-10 12.1 -- 3.73 -- 4.42 -- 78 -- 0.38 -- 6.80 -- 9.88 -- 10-5 12.1 -- 3.82 -- 4.47 -- 92 -- 0.38 -- 4.18 -- 9.95 -- 5-0 12.3 -- 3.49 -- 4.62 -- 108 -- 0.38 -- 4.10 -- 9.49 -- 0-4 12.3 9.2 2.74 4.60 4.52 5.25 90 6 0.25 0.14 3.69 4.15 11.55 19.61 4-8 12.5 14.6 2.31 0.67 4.60 4.86 65 5 0.20 0.06 3.38 2.65 20.16 20.39 8-19 16.5 17.3 0.48 0.35 4.70 4.72 16 7 0.10 0.08 2.54 1.50 18.03 23.85 19-28 17.5 30.0 0.50 0.25 4.67 4.93 20 4 0.11 0.11 2.17 1.32 25.43 25.32 28-34 20.5 18.6 0.29 0.15 4.67 4.69 8 6 0.11 0.11 1.66 1.47 25.17 26.48 34-46 18.4 20.0 0.15 0.12 4.88 5.00 4 3 0.10 0.10 2.32 1.83 25.00 27.27 46-54 27.4 23.2 0.10 0.09 4.77 4.93 3 3 0.12 0.11 5.99 4.83 27.10 26.15 54-60 26.9 27.9 0.09 0.04 5.14 4.57 3 3 0.14 0.15 7.66 7.79 24.21 23.65 1Measurements were taken on May 31, 1996, 2 days after 0.3 inch (0.7 cm) of rain and 3 days after 0.45 inch (1.1 cm) of rain. Table 12. Percent clay and organic matter (OM), pH, extractable P, and exchangeable K and Ca in formicarious (FP) and undisturbed (UP) pedons on a Loring silt loam (Mound A, Site I). Depth (in) % Clay % OM pH P (mg/kg) K (cmol/kg) Ca (cmol/kg) FP UP FP UP FP UP FP UP FP UP FP UP 6-5.5 16.9 -- 2.80 -- 4.85 -- 21 -- 0.56 -- 3.61 -- 5.5-4 15.4 -- 2.98 -- 4.99 -- 17 -- 0.45 -- 3.07 -- 4-2 16.7 -- 2.71 -- 4.86 -- 17 -- 0.48 -- 3.06 -- 2-0 16.0 -- 2.99 -- 4.83 -- 21 -- 0.52 -- 3.29 -- 0-2 17.8 15.5 3.29 2.91 4.80 5.46 28 17 0.59 0.47 3.89 5.10 2-4 15.2 15.7 1.19 1.13 4.96 5.16 7 6 0.24 0.17 1.59 1.85 4-16 17.7 17.1 0.95 0.78 5.30 5.33 5 4 0.25 0.12 1.08 1.05 16-24 23.1 22.4 0.49 0.57 5.28 5.30 7 5 0.22 0.17 1.10 1.04 24-32 20.5 21.9 0.16 0.17 5.30 5.37 10 8 0.19 0.18 0.98 0.91 32-40 18.6 20.5 0.09 0.10 5.49 5.68 10 9 0.18 0.17 0.58 0.66 40-50 20.4 22.8 0.07 0.07 5.47 5.79 9 9 0.17 0.19 0.56 0.77 50-60 17.7 20.3 0.05 0.05 6.05 5.82 5 7 0.15 0.18 0.57 0.92 Table 13. Percent clay and organic matter (OM), pH, extractable P, exchangeable K and Ca, and percent moisture in formicarious (FP) and undisturbed (UP) pedons on Loring silt loam (Mound B, Site I). 1 Depth (in) % Clay % OM pH P (mg/kg) K (cmol/kg) Ca (cmol/kg) % Moisture FP UP FP UP FP UP FP UP FP UP FP UP FP UP 14-10 15.9 -- 4.21 -- 6.36 -- 43 -- 0.77 -- 3.13 -- 31.53 -- 10-6 17.8 -- 3.30 -- 5.10 -- 24 -- 0.68 -- 2.49 -- 26.93 -- 6-0 19.4 -- 2.55 -- 4.88 -- 21 -- 0.71 -- 2.35 -- 28.42 -- 0-2 18.0 16.5 1.91 2.60 4.99 5.07 9 8 0.37 0.25 1.71 2.41 26.35 26.89 2-7 18.7 18.3 1.49 1.59 5.15 5.08 7 4 0.23 0.16 1.67 1.83 26.03 28.35 7-11 21.5 26.0 1.08 0.64 5.10 5.21 5 4 0.17 0.16 1.65 2.12 27.41 26.75 11-24 25.4 23.9 0.28 0.31 5.18 5.26 8 8 0.19 0.16 1.59 1.74 27.98 29.52 24-35 19.9 17.3 0.15 0.09 5.40 5.44 9 9 0.17 0.15 1.13 1.46 29.01 25.91 35-48 19.8 19.3 0.05 0.05 5.61 5.24 9 11 0.18 0.17 1.35 1.53 26.83 23.90 48-60 16.7 18.3 0.05 0.05 5.47 5.44 7 9 0.16 0.15 1.31 1.29 26.98 22.90 1Measurements were taken on May 31, 1996, 2 days after 1.2 inches (3 cm) of rain and 3 days after 2.6 inches (6.7 cm) of rain. Table 14. Percent clay and organic matter (OM), pH, extractable P, exchangeable K and Ca, and percent moisture in formicarious (FP) and undisturbed (UP) pedons on an Oktibbeha silt loam (Site J). Depth (in) % Clay % OM pH P (mg/kg) K (cmol/kg) Ca (cmol/kg) FP UP FP UP FP UP FP UP FP UP FP UP 8.5-8 20.1 -- 4.07 -- 7.72 -- 14 -- 0.33 -- 20.73 -- 8-7 24.3 -- 3.96 -- 7.86 -- 10 -- 0.33 -- 22.75 -- 7-5 22.5 -- 3.29 -- 8.05 -- 8 -- 0.33 -- 21.40 -- 5-3 25.9 -- 3.55 -- 7.79 -- 9 -- 0.34 -- 21.88 -- 3-0 23.7 -- 4.10 -- 7.68 -- 9 -- 0.30 -- 21.92 -- 0-2 21.5 15.5 5.62 5.53 7.68 6.78 11 8 0.36 0.15 22.11 16.57 2-4 17.0 -- 4.81 -- 7.66 -- 10 -- 0.28 -- 22.86 -- 4-6 27.8 17.0 1.82 3.43 7.75 7.33 5 6 0.18 0.11 21.90 15.75 6-10 -- 32.3 -- 1.31 -- 7.53 -- 3 -- 0.12 -- 19.02 10-15 37.2 39.2 0.56 0.80 7.45 7.48 3 3 0.16 0.14 19.85 19.83 15-28 37.7 42.9 0.39 0.41 6.68 6.28 3 3 0.17 0.15 18.74 19.35 28-32 46.5 46.6 0.31 0.30 5.11 5.12 3 3 0.19 0.17 20.81 17.10 32-39 50.3 48.2 0.34 0.25 5.20 4.89 3 3 0.19 0.18 23.09 19.17 39-41 48.3 47.3 0.41 0.29 6.25 5.14 3 3 0.15 0.19 24.74 22.61 41-48 48.3 47.1 0.41 0.40 6.25 7.61 3 3 0.15 0.10 24.74 27.62 48-50 48.4 -- 0.36 -- 7.58 -- 3 -- 0.12 -- 26.92 -- For more information about Technical Bulletin 223 -- Impact of Imported Fire Ants on Mississippi Soils contact: Dr. David E. Pettry Phone: (662) 325-2770 Email: David E. Pettry To contact the Experiment Station: MAFES Director's Office Box 9740 Mississippi State, MS 39762 Phone: 662/325-3005 Fax: 662/325-3001 E-mail: MAFES Visit: Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station The Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine Mississippi State University Extension Service Mississippi State University Visit: DAFVM || USDA Search our Site || Need more information about this subject? Last Modified: Wednesday, 11-Feb-09 14:05:18 URL: http://msucares.com/pubs/techbulletins/tb223tables1-14.htm Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Recommendations on this web site do not endorse any commercial products or trade names.