There are 20 quadrillion ants on the planet, according to a new estimate made by researchers at the Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg in Germany,Prior to this, estimates of their numbers were "essentially educated guesses" from scientists. So, the researchers put together data from 489 studies about ant population densities in various parts of the world.
The 489 studies they used in their research consisted of ant numbers from all continents on the planet, major biomes, and habitats. According to their conservative estimates, there are about three quadrillions of ground-dwelling ants on the planet, while the total number is expected to be 20 quadrillions.The total biomass of this population is estimated to be 12 megatons.
Given their role in various ecosystems, the estimation of ant numbers will also serve as a baseline for their distribution. In the future, researchers can use the same methods in the same places to determine what has changed in the ant biomass and study its impact.Knowledge on the distribution and abundance of organisms is fundamental to understanding their roles within ecosystems and their ecological importance for other taxa.
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