Ant removal distance, but not seed manipulation and deposition site increases the establishment of a myrmecochorous plant

Fernandes, Tiago Vinícius; Paolucci, Lucas N.; Solar, Ricardo; Neves, Frederico S.; Campos, Ricardo I.

doi:10.1007/s00442-019-04551-5

Cited by 15 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…potential dispersers) and greater vulnerability to collapse in the case of ant species loss (or in a wider scale, disperser loss) in disturbed sites. The remarkable differences in ant species composition between sites (35% of the ant species were found exclusively in preserved sites) and the significant differences in DRE for most ant species between disturbed and preserved sites reinforces that disturbance can strongly influence secondary diaspore removal dynamics and their ecological outcomes(Schoereder, Sobrinho, Ribas, & Campos, 2004, see alsoFernandes, Paolucci, Solar, Neves, & Campos, 2019). These striking differences in qualitative and quantitative aspects of ant-diaspore interactions between sites suggest that 'ant limitation' (fewer species, lower abundances) and 'dispersal service limitation' can be crucial aspects to a better understanding of plant community assembly and recovery in campo rupestre.At least one-third of the diaspores of Byrsonima, Davilla and Miconia were removed within 48 hr, indicating that animal-diaspore interactions comprise an important ecological filter driving post-dispersal seed fate for these species and probably for many other plant species in edaphic grasslands.…”

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confidence: 67%

Topsoil disturbance reshapes diaspore interactions with ground‐foraging animals in a megadiverse grassland

Arruda

Costa

Guerra

et al. 2020

J Vegetation Science

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Questions Anthropogenic disturbances are known to be followed by extremely poor recovery in edaphic grasslands. However, the role of interactions with diaspore predators and secondary dispersers, which compose the dispersal filter and modulate plant community recovery, has been overlooked. We performed field experiments to investigate how soil disturbances affect diaspore interactions with the ground‐foraging fauna to better understand how disturbance influences regeneration potential. Location Campo rupestre vegetation, megadiverse edaphic grasslands, southeastern Brazil. Methods We used diaspores from five native species to compare removal rates between disturbed (top soil removal) and preserved sites; we also controlled invertebrate and vertebrate access to determine their role. In addition, we assessed differences in the diaspore removal effectiveness (DRE) and the structure of animal–diaspore interactions through network based‐approach. Results For three species, the average diaspore removal rates was relatively high (between 30% and 70%). Invertebrates were the most common removal agents in both disturbed and preserved sites. Interactions with foraging fauna and removal rates were 20% smaller in disturbed sites. Considering all diaspore removal events in disturbed sites, 24% resulted in the displacement from disturbed to preserved sites, but no diaspore was transported from preserved to disturbed ones. The animal–diaspore network was exclusively composed by ant–diaspore interactions and was more diverse and robust in preserved sites compared with disturbed ones. Seed predator ants (Pheidole and Dorymyrmex) were more common in disturbed sites. Furthermore, significant differences were found in the DRE between ant species and site types, suggesting specificity in the provision of dispersal services. Conclusions Topsoil removal affected removal proportions, DRE and ant–diaspore interaction network structure. The lack of diaspore dispersal towards disturbed sites indicates that soil removal affects secondary seed removal dynamics, impeding recovery potential. Disturbance negatively affected diaspore fate by reshaping interactions with ground‐foraging secondary seed dispersers and predators, constraining the development of seed bank and thus impacting upon vegetation dynamics and resilience.

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mentioning

confidence: 67%

Topsoil disturbance reshapes diaspore interactions with ground‐foraging animals in a megadiverse grassland

Arruda

Costa

Guerra

et al. 2020

J Vegetation Science

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“…Overall, the ants can benefit plants on diaspore dispersal in many ways such as by the number of diaspores removed, diaspore removal distance and diaspore fate (Giladi , Leal et al , Griffiths et al , Fernandes et al ). However, the magnitude of these benefits is conditioned by several factors, both biotic and abiotic (Manzaneda et al , Gallegos et al , Guerra et al , Magalhães et al ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Aside from the number of diaspores removed, the distance of diaspore removal is one of the main factors modulating seed dispersal effectiveness (Schupp et al ). Farther diaspores are removed by ants, can result in increased probability that they will germinate and establish successfully (Andersen , Fernandes et al ), increasing an ant's contribution to plant colonization dynamics, subpopulation persistence and spreading (Gallegos et al , Pascov et al ). The main factors affecting distance of diaspore removal by ants seems to be the same affecting the quantity of diaspores removed, but with slightly different magnitude and direction.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ants as diaspore removers of non‐myrmecochorous plants: a meta‐analysis

Anjos

Leal

Jordano

et al. 2020

Oikos

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Diaspore (e.g. seeds, fruits) dispersal is pivotal for plant communities and often involves several steps and different dispersing agents. Most studies focusing on diaspore dispersal by animals have highlighted the role of vertebrates, neglecting the role of ants in the diaspore dispersal of non‐myrmecochorous plants. Diaspore dispersal by ants is especially relevant in the current scenario of declining of vertebrate populations and, consequently, collapse of the dispersal system of large‐seeded plants. Although ants can never compensate for the dispersal service provided by vertebrates, they can mitigate the impact of vertebrate decline via removal of diaspores deposited on the ground. We have used a meta‐analytical approach to investigate the contribution of ants in the removal of non‐myrmecochorous diaspores (through vertebrate exclusion experiments). We considered the number of diaspore removal as effect size and factors such as plant growth forms, diaspore and ant size, habitat type as moderators. In addition, we investigated the role of such factors on the diaspore removal distance by ants. Ants played complementary role to non‐myrmecochorous diaspore removal services provided by vertebrates (mean Hedges’ g of −0.30). The ant diaspore removal was 69% higher for diaspores from shrubs than that of tree diaspores and removal of small‐sized diaspores were 69% and 70% higher in comparison to medium‐ and large‐sized diaspores, respectively. Regarding the diaspore removal distance by ants, those of tree species were removed 32% farther than those of shrub species, and diaspores were removed three‐ times farther in the savanna than in rainforest ecosystems. Our results highlight the shrubs and small‐sized diaspores. Regarding the diaspore removal distance, the ants can be crucial for the dispersal of tree diaspores and in the savanna ecosystems. Finally, considering the biodiversity crisis, the ants may play an even more important role than appreciated in diaspores dispersal.

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“…The fact that myrmecochory is almost entirely restricted to shrubs and herbs (but see for tree species Fernandes et al, 2019) suggests that the primary benefit to plants is reduced parent-offspring competition through distance dispersal, because this is the only hypothesized benefit that relates to plant stature (Leal et al, 2015). The importance of distance dispersal for M. serrulata is suggested by its requirement of high solar radiation for growth (Aleixo et al, 2017),and the location of P. naegelii nests in open areas means that seeds are removed from beneath the canopy to areas of high solar radiation (Belchior et al, 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite such a dichotomy, the outcome of an ant-seed interaction is not always clear (Arnan et al, 2012;Fernandes et al, 2018Fernandes et al, , 2019. Some seeds may in fact benefit from harvester ants through 'accidental' dispersal due to seeds being dropped during transport, discarded onto the midden before being consumed, or germinating inside the nest after the nest is abandoned (O'Dowd & Hay, 1980;MacMahon et al, 2000;Aranda-Rickert & Fracchia, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Switching roles from antagonist to mutualist: a harvester ant as a key seed disperser of a myrmecochorous plant

Anjos

Andersen

Carvalho

et al. 2020

Ecological Entomology

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1. Harvester ants are major seed predators in arid environments. However, given that many harvester ants are partly omnivorous and therefore potentially attracted to the elaiosomes of myrmecochorous seeds, it is unclear if these ants act as predators or dispersers when removing myrmecochorous seeds. 2. We describe the outcomes of interactions between the harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex naegelii, and myrmecochorous plant, Microstachys serrulata, in a Brazilian savanna. We: (i) evaluated the role of elaiosome in seed removal by P. naegelii; (ii) investigated the fate and viability of removed seeds; (iii) tested if soils associated with P. naegelii nests are nutrient‐enriched; (iv) compared seedling survival; and (v) the density of seedling and adult M. serrulata nearby to P. naegelii nests compared with those away from these nests (i.e. controls). 3. Rates of removal of M. serrulata seeds were two‐fold higher with elaiosomes than without. The ant attractant oleic acid was the dominant fatty acid in elaiosomes, but it was absent from seeds. Removed seeds are taken into nests, and Tetrazolium tests indicated that 95% of seeds remain viable. Soils associated with P. naegelii nests were not nutrient‐enriched, and seedling survival was similar nearby to P. naegelii nests compared with control areas. However, densities of both seedling and adult M. serrulata were higher nearby to P. naegelii nests than in control areas. 4. Our findings show that P. naegelii switches its role from seed predator for most plant species to be the dominant seed disperser for M. serrulata, playing a key role in the distribution of adult plants.

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Ant removal distance, but not seed manipulation and deposition site increases the establishment of a myrmecochorous plant

Cited by 15 publications

References 58 publications

Topsoil disturbance reshapes diaspore interactions with ground‐foraging animals in a megadiverse grassland

Topsoil disturbance reshapes diaspore interactions with ground‐foraging animals in a megadiverse grassland

Ants as diaspore removers of non‐myrmecochorous plants: a meta‐analysis

Switching roles from antagonist to mutualist: a harvester ant as a key seed disperser of a myrmecochorous plant

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