Ant communities have been shown to alter in association with large scale environmental changes but few studies have investigated the response of ants to small scale changes. An experiment was conducted in sixteen 5 × 5 m plots in semi-arid South Australia. Watering and fencing treatments were used to assess the effect of small scale changes in grazing and rainfall on the vegetation and ant fauna. Fencing significantly influenced the vegetation and although there was no effect on ant abundance, there was evidence that the generic composition was affected.