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A new technique using metal tags to track small seeds over short distances
Author(s) -
Canner Judith E.,
Spence Meredith
Publication year - 2011
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/s11284-010-0761-8
Subject(s) - seed dispersal , biological dispersal , mutualism (biology) , seed dispersal syndrome , biology , temperate deciduous forest , ecology , nest (protein structural motif) , ant colony , deciduous , computer science , artificial intelligence , population , biochemistry , demography , sociology , ant colony optimization algorithms
Abstract Myrmecochory (seed dispersal by ants) is an evolutionarily and ecologically common mutualism. Since the first study of the phenomenon, ecologists have sought to develop techniques to track ant‐dispersed seeds. Often, thick leaf litter and the potential burial of seeds by ants make tracking of seeds difficult. Here we describe a seed‐tracking technique for small seeds, which uses magnetic tags, developed for mark–recapture studies of fish, to track seeds after dispersal into the ant nest in temperate deciduous forests. We discuss our use of the technique as well as suggestions for improvement and other possible applications of the technique.