Latest estimate: Total of about 200 billion yuan

A ant stayed on the green leaves of the flower garden. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Zhang Weitang)

Ant is a common insect. How many ants are there on the earth? The estimated result given by the latest scientific research is at least 200 million.

Researchers from the University of Verzburg, the University of China, University of China, and other institutions published a paper introduction in the latest issue of the American Academy of Sciences. In order to more accurately estimate the total number of ants on the earth, they used standardized methods to summarize the different from the world from the world from different from the world in the past. Regional data about 489 research on ant species density. At present, there are about 1,5700 ants and subspecies on the earth.

After exterior pushing these data, they estimated that there were 3000 million ants who lived on the surface alone, and the number of ants on the earth added at least about 200 million. Researchers explained that human knowledge of ants is still incomplete. At present, most ant statistics research on ants is limited to the surface, and there is less attention on trees or underground. In addition, relevant statistics in Africa and northern Asia are also limited.

Although the ants are small, they win with quantity. This international scientific research team introduced in the paper that the total amount (with dry carbon meter) of 200 million ants can reach about 12 million tons, which is more than the biomass of birds and mammals in all wild natural environments. The sum is big.

Ant plays a vital role in most ecosystems around the world. They can help spread seeds and turn the soil to increase nutrients. In addition, there are many animals eating ants.

The research team believes that estimates that the total amount of ants can help scientists grasp the number and bi quantity distribution of ant species in different regions. In the future, continuous observation will help to grasp the changes in ant habitats and quantities caused by factors such as climate change in time. Good protection ecosystem.

Source: Xinhua News Agency

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