Dissertation Research: Granivory in a Shrub-Steppe Ecosystem: Interactions of Harvester Ant Foraging and Native Seed Patches

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Reciprocal interactions between granivorous animals and seeds can have important consequences in arid ecosystems. However, the specific behavioral responses of granivores to seed resource characteristics are poorly understood. A series of studies that combine field investigations at three spatial scales and simulation modelling will address the interactions between an important shrub-steppe granivore, the western harvester ant, and its seed resources. Studies range from a mechanistic analysis of individual ant foraging behavior in native seed patches to measuring various aspects of colony organization and patterns of resource use. An integration of behavioral and resource-based approaches will improve our understanding of interactions that are widespread among arid environments.