Ant behaviour and seed morphology: a missing link of myrmecochory

Gómez, Crisanto; Espadaler, Xavier; Bas, Josep M.

doi:10.1007/s00442-005-0200-7

Cited by 48 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 7 publications

(3 reference statements)

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“…Among the invertebrates, ants and dung beetles are known to be major secondary seed dispersers in tropical forests; however, their role is likely limited to dispersal of small seeds over relatively short distances (Levey and Byrne 1993;Shepherd and Chapman 1998;Gómez et al 2005). Additionally, some terrestrial vertebrate species considered important seed predators and dispersers, such as the agouti (Dasyprocta sp.…”

Section: Diversity Of Dispersed Seedsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are tortoises important seed dispersers in Amazonian forests?

2009

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According to most studies on seed dispersal in tropical forests, mammals and birds are considered the main dispersal agents and the role played by other animal groups remains poorly explored. We investigate qualitative and quantitative components of the role played by the tortoise Chelonoidis denticulata in seed dispersal in southeastern Amazon, and the influence of seasonal variation in tortoise movement patterns on resulting seed shadows. Seed shadows produced by this tortoise were estimated by combining information on seed passage times through their digestive tract, which varied from 3 to 17 days, with a robust dataset on movements obtained from 18 adult C. denticulata monitored with radio transmitters and spoon-and-line tracking devices. A total of 4,206 seeds were found in 94 collected feces, belonging to 50 seed morphotypes of, at least, 25 plant genera. Very low rates of damage to the external structure of the ingested seeds were observed. Additionally, results of germination trials suggested that passage of seeds through C. denticulata's digestive tract does not seem to negatively affect seed germination. The estimated seed shadows are likely to contribute significantly to the dispersal of seeds away from parent plants. During the dry season seeds were dispersed, on average, 174.1 m away from the location of fruit ingestion; during the rainy season, this mean dispersal distance increased to 276.7 m. Our results suggest that C. denticulata plays an important role in seed dispersal in Amazonian forests and highlight the influence of seasonal changes in movements on the resulting seed shadows.

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Section: Diversity Of Dispersed Seedsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are tortoises important seed dispersers in Amazonian forests?

2009

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“…Moreover, as manipulations were more frequent for seeds without elaiosomes (S), ants may have difficulties to handle the seed. The handle function of the elaiosome has already been highlighted and could be an important evolutive force in these antseed interactions (ODowd and Hay, 1980;Horvitz, 1981;Byrne and Levey, 1993;Gomez et al, 2005).…”

Section: The Ant Effectmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ant-seed interactions: combined effects of ant and plant species on seed removal patterns

Servigne

Detrain

2008

Insect. Soc.

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Seed dispersal by ants (i.e. myrmecochory) is usually considered as a mutualism: ants feed on nutritive bodies, called elaiosomes, before rejecting and dispersing seeds in their nest surroundings. While mechanisms of plant dispersal in the field are well documented, the behaviour of the ant partner was rarely investigated in details. Here, we compared in laboratory conditions the foraging behaviour of two ant species, the omnivorous Lasius niger and the insectivorous Myrmica rubra to which seeds of two European myrmecochorous plants (Chelidonium majus and Viola odorata) were given. Ant colonies were simultaneously presented three types of items: entire seeds with elaiosome (SE), seeds without elaiosome (S) and detached elaiosomes (E). The presence of elaiosomes on seeds did not attract workers from a distance since ants first contact equally each type of items. Although ants are mass-recruiting species, we never observed any recruitment nor trail-laying behaviour towards seeds. For ants having contacted seed items, their antennation, manipulation and seed retrieval behaviour strongly varied depending on the species of each partner. Antennation behaviour, followed by a loss of contact, was the most frequent ant-seed interaction and can be considered as a "hesitation" clue. For both plant species, insectivorous Myrmica ants removed items in larger number and at higher speed than Lasius. This fits with the hypothesis of a convergence between odours of elaiosomes and insect preys. For both ant species, the small Chelidonium seeds were retrieved in higher proportion than Viola ones, confirming the hypothesis that ants prefer the higher elaiosome/diaspore-ratio. Thus, in these crossed experiments, the ant-plant pair Myrmica/ Chelidonium was the most effective as ants removed quickly almost all items after a few antennations. The presence of an elaiosome body increased the seed removal by ants excepting for Myrmica which retrieved all Chelidonium seeds, even those deprived of their elaiosome. After 24 h, all the retrieved seeds were rejected out of the nest to the refuse piles. In at least half of these rejected items, the elaiosome was discarded by ants. Species-specific patterns and behavioural differences in the dynamics of myrmecochory are discussed at the light of ant ecology.

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“…Fire is another ecological process that is particularly important for vegetation dynamics in these habitats (Cowling 1992;Bond and van Wilgen 1996;Keith et al 2002), and can potentially have a major inXuence on seed dispersal by ants. Seed dispersal by ants is inXuenced proximately by biotic factors such as vegetation structure, ant community composition, nest density, and competition for resources (Andersen 1988a;Ness et al 2004;Gómez et al 2005), as well as abiotic factors such as temperature (Ness and Bressmer 2005). All of these factors are potentially inXuenced by habitat disturbance (see Majer 1980;Andersen 1988a;Andersen and Morrison 1998;Ness 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Savanna fires increase rates and distances of seed dispersal by ants

Parr

Andersen

Chastagnol³

et al. 2006

Oecologia

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Myrmecochory (seed dispersal by ants) is a prominent dispersal mechanism in many environments, and can play a key role in local vegetation dynamics. Here we investigate its interaction with another key process in vegetation dynamics-fire. We examine ant dispersal of seeds immediately before and after experimental burning in an Australian tropical savanna, one of the world's most fire-prone ecosystems. Specifically, our study addressed the effects of burning on: (1) the composition of ants removing seeds, (2) number of seed removals, and (3) distance of seed dispersal. Fire led to higher rates of seed removal post-fire when compared with unburnt habitat, and markedly altered dispersal distance, with mean dispersal distance increasing more than twofold (from 1.6 to 3.8 m), and many distance dispersal events greater than the pre-fire maximum (7.55 m) being recorded. These changes were due primarily to longer foraging ranges of species of Iridomyrmex, most likely in response to the simplification of their foraging landscape. The significance of enhanced seed-removal rates and distance dispersal for seedling establishment is unclear because the benefits to plants in having their seeds dispersed by ants in northern Australia are poorly known. However, an enhanced removal rate would enhance any benefit of reduced predation by rodents. Similarly, the broader range of dispersal distances would appear to benefit plants in terms of reduced parent-offspring conflict and sibling competition, and the location of favourable seedling microsites. Given the high frequency of fire in Australian tropical savannas, enhanced benefits of seed dispersal by ants would apply for much of the year.

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Ant behaviour and seed morphology: a missing link of myrmecochory

Cited by 48 publications

References 7 publications

Are tortoises important seed dispersers in Amazonian forests?

Are tortoises important seed dispersers in Amazonian forests?

Ant-seed interactions: combined effects of ant and plant species on seed removal patterns

Savanna fires increase rates and distances of seed dispersal by ants

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