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Preferential removal of non‐injured seeds by an omnivorous ant, Tetramorium tsushimae Emery, in the seed dispersal of Chamaesyce maculata (L.) small
Author(s) -
Ohnishi Yoshihiro K.,
Suzuki Nobuhiko
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
ecological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.628
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1440-1703
pISSN - 0912-3814
DOI - 10.1007/s11284-009-0593-6
Subject(s) - biology , seed dispersal , germination , biological dispersal , seed dispersal syndrome , botany , nest (protein structural motif) , population , biochemistry , demography , sociology
To elucidate roles of an omnivorous ant, Tetramorium tsushimae Emery, against pre‐dispersal seed consumers in the seed dispersal of Chamaesyce maculata (L.) Small, the effects of the seed injury by a stinkbug, Nysius plebeius Distat, on the seed removal by the ant and the germination rate were examined in laboratory experiments. The ants of T. tsushimae removed more frequently non‐injured seeds than injured seeds. Therefore, low removal frequency of injured seeds by T. tsushimae ants might facilitate the increase in removal frequency of non‐injured seeds, consequently leading to efficient seed dispersal of C. maculata . The germination rate of injured seeds that N. plebeius nymphs sucked was conspicuously lower than the non‐injured seeds. The germination rate of seeds that T. tsushimae ants carried out of their nest was similar to that of the non‐injured seeds. Thus, seed removal by T. tsushimae ants has hardly effects on the germination of these seeds. Therefore, the preferential removal of non‐injured seeds by T. tsushimae ants might contribute to the dispersal success of C. maculata seeds. These results might show a novel interaction between myrmecochorous plants and ants in which the assessment of seed quality by ants contributes to the reproductive success of plants.