Myrmecochorous seed dispersal in temperate regions.

Mayer, Veronika; Ölzant, Silvester; Fischer, R. C.; Forget, P. M.; Lambert, Joanna E.; Hulme, Philip E.; Wall, Stephen B. Vander

doi:10.1079/9780851998060.0175

Cited by 21 publications

(18 citation statements)

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“…One of the most frequently studied phenomena here is myrmecochory, which has been found to exist in all climates for numerous plant species (Lisci and Pacini 1997, Dostál 2005, Mayer et al 2005, though probably it is most pronounced in the Australian flora (Berg 1975, Ness et al 2004). The seed storing activities of various mouse and vole species also contribute to aggregation of propagules (Jensen 1985, Jensen andNielsen 1986).…”

Section: Further Considerations For Planning Samplingmentioning

confidence: 98%

Seed banks: ecological definitions and sampling considerations

Csontos¹

2007

Community Ecology

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Section: Further Considerations For Planning Samplingmentioning

confidence: 98%

Seed banks: ecological definitions and sampling considerations

Csontos¹

2007

Community Ecology

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“…More than 10 000 plant species world‐wide possess specialized adaptations to induce seed dispersal by ants (Mayer, Olzant & Fischer ; Rico‐Gray & Oliveira ; Ness, Morin & Giladi ; Lengyel et al . ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More than 10 000 plant species world-wide possess specialized adaptations to induce seed dispersal by ants (Mayer, Olzant & Fischer 2005;Rico-Gray & Oliveira 2007;Ness, Morin & Giladi 2009;Lengyel et al 2010). Ant-dispersed plants (myrmecochores) attract ants via a lipid-rich appendage on the seed known as an elaiosome (Marshall, Beattie & Bollenbacher 1979;Skidmore & Heithaus 1988;Pizo & Oliveira 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Competition as a mechanism structuring mutualisms

2014

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Summary1. Hutchinsonian niche theory posits that organisms have fundamental abiotic resource requirements from which they are limited by competition. Organisms also have fundamental biotic requirements, such as mutualists, for which they also might compete. 2. We test this idea with a widespread ant-plant mutualism. Ant-mediated seed dispersal (myrmecochory) in eastern North America involves a few ant species that can effectively disperse the seeds of many plant species. This imbalance suggests that ant-dispersed plants (myrmecochores) might compete for ant dispersers. We hypothesized that, because larger seeds are more attractive to ants, myrmecochores might segregate the timing of seed release by size to relieve competition. 3. Comparative literature analysis across plant species reveals that myrmecochore seed size increases with the fruiting season in a staggered pattern so that small-and large-seeded co-occurring species do not release seeds at the same time -a pattern not observed in plants using other dispersal modes. 4. We then presented foraging ants with small and large seeds in field trials throughout the fruiting season to test whether the observed temporal segregation in myrmecochore seed size is consistent with plant competition for ant dispersers. 5. Our results show that dispersal rates for smaller seeds increase across the growing season, but only in the absence of large seeds. Our combined literature and field data suggest that myrmecochores stagger fruiting by seed size so that small seeds are set earlier to avoid competition for dispersal mutualists with larger seeds. 6. Synthesis. Ecological interactions are often treated as either positive or negative, but our data blur this distinction by revealing that a positive interaction (mutualism) might be structured by a negative interaction (competition). Moreover, the recognition of biotic resources as critical niche requirements blurs the classic dichotomy between the fundamental (abiotic) versus realized (biotic limited) niche.

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“…While a number of species have been identified as myrmecochorous in these areas based on their seed morphology or on experimental work (Berg 1975; Rice & Westoby 1981; Milewski & Bond 1982; Auld & Denham 1999; Christian & Stanton 2004), the dispersal patterns of many other co‐habiting taxa remain unknown. Many myrmecochorous plant species possess an elaiosome or lipid body that acts as a food reward for ants moving seeds (Mayer et al. 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2005). The range of structures that are attractive to ants is varied (Mayer et al. 2005) and ants are often attracted to seeds that are not adapted specifically for ant dispersal (Pizo & Oliveira 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Petals may act as a reward: myrmecochory in shrubby Darwinia species of south‐eastern Australia

Auld¹

2009

Austral Ecology

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The removal rates of fruits (the diaspore) were assessed in exclusion experiments in three shrubby species of Darwinia, endemic to the Sydney Basin of south-eastern Australia. There was a clear pattern of fruit removal in just a few days by small species of ants from the genera Iridomyrmex, Crematogaster and Pheidole. When only ants had access to fruits an average of 41% of fruits were removed, whereas when only vertebrates had access an average of 13% of fruits were removed. There was some variation in the number of fruits removed both between species and within species across study sites or annual seed crops. When ants had access to seeds this variation in removal amounted to 10-80% over 1-4 days. Uniquely in Darwinia, it is the old petals (which remain attached to the fruit) that are attractive to the ants, rather than a specific lipid body. This likely represents a case of successful ecological fitting by Darwinia to take advantage of the widespread presence of myrmecochory in the Australian flora.

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Myrmecochorous seed dispersal in temperate regions.

Cited by 21 publications

References 0 publications

Seed banks: ecological definitions and sampling considerations

Seed banks: ecological definitions and sampling considerations

Competition as a mechanism structuring mutualisms

Petals may act as a reward: myrmecochory in shrubby Darwinia species of south‐eastern Australia

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