Leaf-cutting ants alter seedling assemblages across second-growth stands of Brazilian Atlantic forest

Secondary forests promote an increased abundance of leaf-cutting ants (LCA) but the consequences on forest dynamics have been poorly addressed. Here we examine seedling assemblage attributes, seed germination and seedling survival across foraging zones of Atta cephalotes colonies inhabiting 15 secon...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of tropical ecology 2012-07, Vol.28 (4), p.361-368
Main Authors: Silva, Paulo S. D., Leal, Inara R., Wirth, Rainer, Melo, Felipe P. L., Tabarelli, Marcelo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abundance
Animal and plant ecology
Animal populations
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Ants
Atta cephalotes
Biological and medical sciences
Defoliation
Foraging
Foraging behavior
Forest ecology
Forest ecosystems
Forest regeneration
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Habitats
Indicator species
Insect colonies
Insect ecology
Insect nests
Insects
Leaf cutting ants
Leaves
Plant populations
Plant species
Planting density
Plants
Rainforests
Seed germination
Seedlings
Species richness
Synecology
Terrestrial ecosystems
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Summary:Secondary forests promote an increased abundance of leaf-cutting ants (LCA) but the consequences on forest dynamics have been poorly addressed. Here we examine seedling assemblage attributes, seed germination and seedling survival across foraging zones of Atta cephalotes colonies inhabiting 15 second-growth patches (25–47 y old) of Atlantic forest. Seeds and seedlings were monitored within foraging zones and control sites over 1 y, including spots around ant nests. Overall, 1862 seedlings from 108 plant species were recorded. Seedling density decreased by 53% in foraging-zone plots (3.31 ± 0.23 seedlings m−2) when compared with control plots (7.02 ± 0.44 seedlings m−2) and a similar decrease was observed for species richness. Ant-induced alterations in the seedling assemblage were further indicated by segregation between foraging-zone and control plots (NMDS), habitat effects on species similarity (ANOSIM), and indicator tree species associated with control plots. While seed germination and seedling survivorship were uncorrelated to either nest distance or age of second-growth stands (with the exception of Tapirira guianensis), defoliation by LCAs was a significant cause of seedling mortality. Our results suggest that LCAs interfere with successional trajectories of Atlantic forest as foraging zones filter seedling establishment, supporting less-dense, impoverished and convergent seedling assemblages.
ISSN:0266-4674
1469-7831
DOI:10.1017/S0266467412000259