NDLI: The effects of the red imported fire ant on seed fate in the longleaf pine ecosystem

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Cumberland, Margaret S. Kirkman, L. Katherine
Copyright Year	2013
Abstract	The natural patterns of myrmecochory are disrupted by the dominance of red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) in the southeastern United States. This leads to questions about the role of fire ants as seed dispersers. We examined the fate of ant-dispersed seed in the longleaf pine ecosystem. First, we determined removal rates for a suite of common ground cover species. Then, we verified the final location of removed seeds by using a wax cast to examine nest contents, and locating dyed seeds deposited in trash piles on the ground surface. Finally, we determined if the germination rate of seeds deposited by fire ants was affected by ant dispersion. Fire ants were most attracted to elaiosome-bearing seed and collected nonelaiosome-bearing seed at a much lower rate. No seeds were found in the contents of wax castings of fire ant nest chambers, suggesting that seed is not stored within the nest. Of the dyed seeds that we presented to fire ants, 30–40 % were recollected in surface trash piles in the mound vicinity within 1 week following removal. Undiscovered seeds were considered destroyed or buried in foraging tunnels. A small percentage of the deposited seeds were able to germinate, but there was no difference in the percent germination between seeds manipulated by fire ants and the control. Low germination was likely due to a high percentage of immature seeds used in the study. Our findings support a growing body of evidence that fire ants facilitate the movement of seeds in the longleaf pine ecosystem.
Starting Page	717
Ending Page	724
Page Count	8
File Format	PDF
ISSN	13850237
Journal	Plant Ecology
Volume Number	214
Issue Number	5
e-ISSN	15735052
Language	English
Publisher	Springer Netherlands
Publisher Date	2013-04-12
Publisher Place	Dordrecht
Access Restriction	One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Subject Keyword	Fire ant Solenopsis invicta Myrmecochory Seed dispersal Invasive ant Longleaf pine Plant Sciences
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Ecology Plant Science

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