KAJIAN PENGARUH AKTIVITAS SEMUT TERHADAP KARAKTERISTIK MIKROBIOLOGIS GAMBUT

Abstract

Ground-dwelling ants build underground nests in peatland areas that have been converted into acacia plantation (“HTI”). The activity of the ants, such as bringing foods into their nests and excreting can alter the substrate availability for microorganisms in belowground environments. The present study is a preliminary investigation of the effect of ground-dwelling ant activity on the microbiological properties of subsurface peat. Samples of ants nest and peat were collected from Bukit Batu area in Bengkalis District, Riau Province. Peat inhabited by ants showed larger microbial C biomass (1461,83 C/hour/g sample) and hence the control peat (104,88 C/hour/g sample). The former (possibly also) demonstrated higher respiration rate (233,72 μg CO2/m2/hour). However, ant acitivities in their nests decreased total population of cellulolytic bacteria (9,3x103 CFU/g sample), hence also the cellulase activity (0,17 μg/hour/g sample)