Redispersal of seeds by a keystone ant augments the spread of common wildflowers
Redispersal of seeds by a keystone ant augments the spread of common wildflowers
复制标题
DOI：
10.1016/j.actao.2012.02.004
复制
发表时间：
2012-04-01
影响因子：
1.8
通讯作者：
Gross, Kevin
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Canner, Judith E.;Dunn, Robert R.;Gross, Kevin
蚁群传播（Myrmecochory，蚂蚁传播种子）是一种进化上和生态上常见的互惠共生。在北美，大多数关于蚁群传播的成本和收益的研究都假设蚂蚁传播的种子被带到蚁穴并留在蚁穴中。在这里，我们使用了一种新的种子跟踪技术，量化二次传播的种子从巢到周围的落叶层的基石种子分散蚂蚁，Aphaenogaster rudis。我们发现A.该虫将90%以上的种子重新散布到巢中，平均距离为51.5厘米。数学模型表明，再扩散使桃金娘科植物Hexastylis arifolia和Asarum canadense的种群扩散率提高了22.5%，离母体的期望累积扩散距离提高了24%。我们的研究结果表明，myrmecochory有利于植物在北美东部的森林增加种子和亲本植物之间的距离，减少兄弟姐妹之间的竞争。(C)2012年Elsevier Masson SAS。All rights reserved.
Myrmecochory (dispersal of seeds by ants) is an evolutionarily and ecologically common mutualism. Most of the research on the costs and benefits of myrmecochory in North America assumes that ant-dispersed seeds are taken to, and left in, the ant nest. Here, we use a novel seed-tracking technique to quantify secondary dispersal of seeds from the nest into the surrounding leaf litter by the keystone seed-dispersing ant, Aphaenogaster rudis. We found that A. rudis redispersed >90% of the seeds it took into its nest an average distance of 51.5 cm. A mathematical model shows redispersal increases the rate of population spread of the myrmecochores Hexastylis arifolia and Asarum canadense by 22.5%, and increases the expected cumulative dispersal distance away from the parent plant by 24%. Our results suggest myrmecochory benefits plants in eastern North American forests by increasing the distance between the seed and parent plant and reducing competition among siblings. (C) 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.