The timing of seed dispersal in Viooa nuttallii: attraction of dispersers and avoidance of predators
The timing of seed dispersal in Viooa nuttallii: attraction of dispersers and avoidance of predators
复制标题
堇菜种子传播的时机：吸引传播者和避免捕食者
作者：
C. Turnbull;D. Culver
花壳吸引啮齿动物捕食者，以及蚂蚁传播者（Myrmica discontapa和Formica podzolica），以Viola nuttallii种子。蚂蚁和啮齿动物的种子去除进行了研究，超过24小时，并在两个独立的4小时期间。实验处理包括i）蚂蚁和啮齿动物能够接近种子，ii）仅蚂蚁能够接近种子，iii）仅啮齿动物能够接近种子，以及iv）蚂蚁和啮齿动物都不能接近种子。监测种子开裂3天。一个简单的模型被用来确定蚂蚁和啮齿动物在移除种子中的相对重要性，这些频率与大多数种子被释放的时间有关。数据显示，大多数种子在上午9点到下午1点之间从胶囊中脱落，并立即被蚂蚁移走。平均而言，蚂蚁会带走88%的种子。种子开裂的时间增加了种子被蚂蚁传播的可能性。结果进行了讨论的假设，种子传播的时间和期间，大多数蚂蚁（互惠）和最少的啮齿动物（捕食者）是活跃的同步将是有利的植物物种。
SummaryElaiosomes attract rodent predators, as well as ant dispersers (Myrmica discontinua and Formica podzolica), to Viola nuttallii seeds. Seed removal by ants and rodents was studied over 24 h and over two separate 4-h periods. Experimental treatments included i) ants and rodents having access to seeds, ii) only ants having access, iii) only rodents having access, and iv) neither ants nor rodents having access. Seed dehiscence was monitored for 3 days. A simple model is used to determine the relative importance of ants and rodents in removing seeds, and these frequencies are related to the time when most seeds were released. The data show that most seeds are shed from capsules between 9 AM and 1 PM and are immediately removed by ants. Ants, on the average, remove 88% of the seeds. The timing of seed dehiscence increases the probability of seeds being dispersed by ants. The results are discussed with respect to the hypothesis that a sychrony of the time of seed dispersal and the period when most ants (mutualists) and least rodents (predators) are active would be advantageous to the plant species.