Short- and long-term responses of forest ant communities to a tornado and subsequent salvage logging

Natural disturbances are vital for maintaining forest structure and function, but human-induced events can create novel conditions that challenge native species. In 2012, a tornado struck two areas of second-growth deciduous forest at Powdermill Nature Reserve in Pennsylvania. Half of each area was later salvage logged using heavy machinery. This combination of natural and human disturbances created a unique opportunity to study how forest organisms respond—particularly ants, which act as ecosystem engineers.

To evaluate short- and long-term responses, we used pitfall traps to sample ant communities biweekly in 2015 and again in 2022. Early results from 2015 showed that Aphaenogaster species were most abundant, consistent with their role as dominant seed dispersers in disturbed habitats. Our study asks: (1) Are the same species present in both years, or has community turnover occurred? (2) Which species dominate in each year, and how has community structure shifted?

By addressing these questions, we aim to better understand how ant communities respond to compounded disturbances and the broader implications for forest recovery and ecological functions like seed dispersal. This research provides important insights into the resilience and dynamics of ant communities following major habitat disruptions.