| Wildfire frequency and intensity are increasing globally, and seed additions are commonly used to restore native plant assemblages and prevent dominance by invasive plants in post-burn communities. However, these restoration efforts are often unsuccessful, perhaps because animals negatively impact seeding efforts via trophic and ecosystem engineering effects that favor invasive plants. These interactions can also have positive effects on restoration efforts, but these effects are under-studied. I evaluated both positive and negative effects of harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex salinus) trophic and ecosystem engineering interactions with plants in a recently burned steppe ecosystem. Experimental seed additions were applied to replicated plots around burned and unburned ant nests in both active and inactive states. Plant cover, soil characteristics, ant foraging behavior, and ant tissue chemistry were quantified to explore this research question. The results indicated that ant diets shifted after wildfire and restorative seeding may be most effective if conducted in the Fall. |