Cammeraat et al.(2002) noted that microbial activity was increased in soils with higher water-holding capacity, which would in turn accelerate decomposition and the release of nutrients, and Wagner et al. (1997) and Wagner and Jones (2004) also reported substantially higher densities of microorganisms in ant nest soils. pH of the ant nest soils was conspicuously lower than the alkaline non-nest soils, and similar results were reported for Pogonomyrmex barbatus nests in an arid grassland habitat of New Mexico by Wagner et al. (2004).