Myrmecochory and short-term seed fate in Rhamnus alaternus: Ant species and seed characteristics

Bas, Josep M.; Oliveras, Jordi; Gómez, Crisanto

doi:10.1016/j.actao.2009.02.003

Cited by 42 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…thus relaxing competition with other generalist species. These results coincide with the pattern of seed attention described by Rico-Gray & Oliveira [18] and Bas et al [46] where attines are usually attracted by nonmyrmecochorous diaspores with large arils and low lipid content (<8%). According to the authors, if these diasporas are also light in weight (<0.1 g), they can be transported greater distances (to 10 m), something that could be significant for the lighter G. ulmifolia seeds.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Removal of Nonmyrmecochorous Seeds by Ants: Role of Ants in Cattle Grasslands

Escobar-Ramírez

López

Henao

et al. 2012

Psyche: A Journal of Entomology

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Livestock production models prevailing in Colombian Andes are simplified treeless pastures for extensive ranching, with the consequent reduction of environmental services, such as seed dispersal, due to lack of primary dispersers, scarcity of adequate sites for seedling establishment and competition with grasses. This study evaluated if, in these harsh environments, ants can promote the colonization of arboreal species through directed dispersion of seeds towards the nests. Ten seeds of each species were offered to ants in six grazing pastures. Ants removed 25% of the seeds (1827) in 48 hours. Preference for arillated and small-to-medium sized seeds, such as Pithecellobium dulce, and Guazuma ulmifolia, was observed. Cyphomyrmex major, Ectatomma ruidum, Solenopsis geminata and Atta cephalotes were the key ant species in seed removal. It was concluded that functional ant groups present in the pastures could contribute to secondary dispersion of seeds with potential for restoration.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Removal of Nonmyrmecochorous Seeds by Ants: Role of Ants in Cattle Grasslands

Escobar-Ramírez

López

Henao

et al. 2012

Psyche: A Journal of Entomology

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“…A few seeds of Rhamnus alaternus were also collected, although this species does not grow in our study plot. This suggests that these seeds had been removed from bird droppings, as has been shown in other regions (Aronne and Wilcock, 1994;Bas et al, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

“…However, seed survival and germination after being manipulated by this granivore ant was not tested. Fleshy fruits are transport by Aphaenogaster and Cataglyphis ants in Spain but the importance of this phenomenon is unknown (Traveset, 1994;Hulme, 1997;Bas et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dispersal of non-myrmecochorous plants by a “keystone disperser” ant in a Mediterranean habitat reveals asymmetric interdependence

et al. 2012

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In contrast to other plant-animal mutualisms, seed dispersal interactions, and particularly seed dispersal by ants, are generally considered asymmetric, non-specialized relationships in which dispersers depend less on plants than vice versa. Although myrmecochory is well understood in many terrestrial ecosystems, dispersal of non-elaiosomebearing seeds by ants has barely been studied outside the Neotropics. Aphaenogaster senilis, a common ant in Southern Spain, collects a great variety of non-myrmecochorous diaspores along with insect prey. At our study site, fleshy fruits of Arum italicum, Phillyrea angustifolia and Pistacia lentiscus represent up to one-fourth of the items collected by A. senilis from June to November. However, they are mostly ignored by other ants. In the laboratory, the addition of A. italicum fruits to A. senilis insect-based diet increased male production and both worker and queen pupae size. Seeds were transported up to 8 m away from the mother plant and deposited in a favorable habitat allowing a relatively high proportion of germination. Given important differences in seed production between species, our data suggest that A. senilis removes virtually all seeds of A. italicum, but a negligible fraction of P. lentiscus seeds. We conclude that in contrast to the common view, dispersal of non-myrmecochorous Mediterranean plants by ants might be an important phenomenon. Keystone disperser ants like A. senilis probably obtain an important fitness advantage from non-myrmecochorous diaspore collection. However, plant benefit may vary greatly according to the amount of seeds per individual plant and the existence of alternative dispersal agents.

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“…Nevertheless, elaiosome-absent seeds are likely to be removed only by granivore predators, while elaiosome-bearing seeds will also attract mutualistic ant seed dispersers interested mainly in the nutritious elaiosome (e.g. Bas et al, 2009). The dramatic increase in seed removal of elaiosome-bearing seeds suggest that an important part of the elaiosome-bearing seeds removed at the invasion edges were effectively dispersed (as opposed to preyed).…”

Section: A Longifoliamentioning

confidence: 99%

Invasive acacias experience higher ant seed removal rates at the invasion edges

2012

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Abstract. Seed dispersal is a key process for the invasion of new areas by exotic species. Introduced plants often take advantage of native generalist dispersers. Australian acacias are primarily dispersed by ants in their native range and produce seeds bearing a protein and lipid rich reward for ant mutualists (elaiosome). Nevertheless, the role of myrmecochory in the expansion of Australian acacias in European invaded areas is still not clear. We selected one European population of Acacia dealbata and another of A. longifolia and offered elaiosome-bearing and elaiosome-removed seeds to local ant communities. For each species, seeds were offered both in high-density acacia stands and in low-density invasion edges. For both acacia species, seed removal was significantly higher at the low-density edges. For A. longifolia, manual elimination of elaiosomes reduced the chance of seed removal by 80 % in the low-density edges, whereas it made no difference on the high-density stands. For A. dealbata, the absence of elaiosome reduced seed removal rate by 52 %, independently of the acacia density. Our data suggests that invasive acacias have found effective ant seed dispersers in Europe and that the importance of such dispersers is higher at the invasion edges.

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Myrmecochory and short-term seed fate in Rhamnus alaternus: Ant species and seed characteristics

Cited by 42 publications

References 29 publications

Removal of Nonmyrmecochorous Seeds by Ants: Role of Ants in Cattle Grasslands

Removal of Nonmyrmecochorous Seeds by Ants: Role of Ants in Cattle Grasslands

Dispersal of non-myrmecochorous plants by a “keystone disperser” ant in a Mediterranean habitat reveals asymmetric interdependence

Invasive acacias experience higher ant seed removal rates at the invasion edges

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