Interactions between Ants and Non-myrmecochorous Fruits in Miconia (Melastomataceae) in a Neotropical Savanna

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of ants as secondary seed dispersers of six primarily bird-dispersed Miconia species in the cerrados of southeastern Brazil. Vertebrate exclosure and seed germination experiments were performed for M. albicans, M. alborufescens, M. corallina, M. ferrugi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biotropica 2013-03, Vol.45 (2), p.217-223
Main Authors: Lima, Mônica H. C., Oliveira, Evandro G., Silveira, Fernando A. O.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acromyrmex
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Ant-plant interaction
Applied ecology
Atta
Biological and medical sciences
Camponotus
Cerrado
Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife
Corallina
diplochory
directed dispersal
Ectatomma
Forest insects
Formicidae
Fruits
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
Germination
Melastomataceae
Miconia
Plant insect relations
Plants
seed bank
seed cleaning
seed dispersal
seed germination
Seeds
Soil insects
Species
Tropical Biology
Vertebrates
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Summary:The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of ants as secondary seed dispersers of six primarily bird-dispersed Miconia species in the cerrados of southeastern Brazil. Vertebrate exclosure and seed germination experiments were performed for M. albicans, M. alborufescens, M. corallina, M. ferruginata, M. ibaguensis, and M. irwinii. Excluding vertebrates did not significantly alter fruit removal rate for any of the Miconia species relative to open controls. Fruits on stalks and fallen fruits were removed and transported to nests mainly by species of Atta, Acromyrmex, and Ectatomma (dispersal distance ranging from 0.1 to 45.2 m), while Camponotus ants tended to be observed removing the fruit pulp (seed cleaning) where the fruits were found. Seed manipulation by Atta decreased germination of M. irwinii, but not M. ferruginata. Germination did not occur in intact fruits, and thus seed cleaning was an important service provided by the ants. Ant nest soils did not inhibit germination of any of the Miconia species, suggesting they are a good substrate for long-lived Miconia seeds. We conclude that ant activity could have important effects on the fate of Miconia seeds adapted for bird dispersal.
ISSN:0006-3606
1744-7429
DOI:10.1111/j.1744-7429.2012.00910.x