Evidence Against the Hypothesis that Ant‐Dispersed Seeds Reach Nutrient‐Enriched Microsites

It has been hypothesized that seeds of species adapted for dispersal by ants (myrmecochores) obtain an adaptive advantage because they reach microsites for germination that are nutrient—enriched relative to background levels. This hypothesis has some direct support, mostly from Northern Hemisphere studies, and could also explain the high incidence of myrmecochory in sclerophyll shrubs in Australia and South Africa, which characteristically are found on low—nutrient soils. We therefore tested the hypothesis for a cross section of species in Australian sclerophyll vegetation. Soil close to roots of emerging seedlings of myrmecochores was not higher in total N or available P than soil around emerging seedlings of nonmyrmecochores, or than soil not occupied by any seedling. We therefore reject the nutrient—enriched microsite hypothesis as an adaptive explanation for these species, in this vegetation.