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Effects of seed aggregation on the removal rates of elaiosome‐bearing Chelidonium majus and Viola odourata seeds carried by Formica polyctena ants
Author(s) -
Gorb Elena,
Gorb Stanislav
Publication year - 2000
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 - 10.1046/j.1440-1703.2000.00338.x
Subject(s) - chelidonium , biology , botany , violaceae , viola , obligate , horticulture , art , piano , art history
In a field dominated by Formica polyctena Foerst. ants, we examined the effect of seed aggregation on the seed‐removal rates of two plant species: a large‐seeded obligate myrmecochore Viola odorata L. and a small‐seeded diplochore Chelidonium majus L., which was autochorous as well as myrmecochorous. The effect was statistically non‐significant in V. odorata but significant in C. majus , with more closely aggregated seeds having higher removal rates. The large seeds of the obligate myrmecochore were more quickly discovered and repeatedly removed by ant workers than were the small seeds of the diplochore.