SOIL-WATER MOVEMENT-RELATED TO DISTANCE FROM 3 POGONOMYRMEX-SALINUS (HYMENOPTERA, FORMICIDAE) NESTS IN SOUTH-EASTERN IDAHO

Three ant nests and one intervegetation reference area received water application through rain simulation. While there were between-nest dif ferences in the spatial patterns of water infiltration, two features w ere evident at all nests. First, there was a noticeable delay of volum etric increase to the nest soil profile, and second, there was a bimod al distribution of percolation as a function of distance from the nest . Two areas of greater infiltration formed around nests: one surroundi ng the mound and another c. 2.5 m from the mound centre. The reference area showed a different spatial pattern with little infiltration occu rring centrally.