南京中山植物园秋冬季鸟类对植物种子的传播作用

1999年10月20日－2000年1月20日,在南京中山植物园内随机收集鸟粪样品160份,共分离出874粒结构完整的种子和果核、3块鞘翅目昆虫残体和1块鸟类羽毛残块。已鉴定出842粒种子和果核,分属于16科20属26种（变种）。在鸟粪样品中出现频率较高的种子依次分别属于冬青（Ilex purpurea)(22.22%)、圆柏（Sabina chinensis)(11.11%)、盐肤木（Rhus chinensis)(10.63%)、朴树（Celtis sinensis)(9．18％）、爬山虎（Parthenocissus tricuspidata)(7.73%)、龙柏（S.chinensis cv.kaizuca)(7.25%)等;种子数量相对较多的植物种类主要有冬青（23．52％）、盐肤木（16．15％）、圆柏（13．54％）、爬山虎（7．96％）、龙柏（7．96％）、小果蔷薇（Rosa cymosa)(5.34%)等。除经鸟粪传播外,鸟类还通过衔取果实以及在吞食果实后将种子呕出的方式传播种子。初步发芽试验表明,鸟粪样品中的爬山虎、盐肤木的种子,以及被鸟呕出的樟树（Cinnamomum camphora)、楝树（Melia azedarach)的种子均可发芽出苗。鸟类传播种子使南京中山植物园内樟树、冬青、海桐（Pittosporum tobira)和红豆杉（Taxus chinensis)等栽培树种成功地侵入到位于植物园北缘的虎山山坡黑松（Pinus thunbergii)、枫香（Liquidambar formosana)群落、以及植物园内山溪边的枫杨（Pterocarya stenoptera)、朴树群落等生境中。鸟类对种子的传播作用扩大了南京中山植物园内那些具有肉质果实、种子具有坚硬种皮或种子包被于坚硬果核中的植物种类的分布范围,促进了它们的自然更新。     

鸟类对山黄麻种子的传播及其生态作用

在云南西双版纳的勐宋和勐仑地区观察和研究了传统山黄麻种子的鸟类。在野外持网捕获摄食山黄麻果实的鸟类,称量后分别放在布袋内,让其自然排泄,然后标志释放,观察和网捕共记录到摄食山黄麻果实的鸟类36种,其中26种挂网捕获并从排泄物得到种子。用鸟类排泄物中的山黄麻种子、山黄麻树上采摘的成熟果实及人工分离山黄麻种子播种,进行萌发对比实验,实验结果表明,直接播种成熟果实,在阳光充足的空旷地、林冠下或用树叶覆盖遮光等条件下都未萌发,种子容易霉烂或被虫蚀;从山黄麻果肉中分离出来的种子具有萌发能力;而经鸟类摄食、消化后从果肉中分离的种子,具有较好的萌发活力。在不同条件下山黄麻种子萌发情况差异明显,林冠下条件对种子有抑制作用,阳光作用下种子显示出很好的萌发及成活率。鸟类排泄物种子放在林上或用树叶覆盖遮光,经过较长时间便可萌发,而人工分离种子不能萌发。鸟类摄食及消化过程对山黄麻种子的处理表现出很好的生态互惠关系,观察萌发后的山黄麻幼苗的生长情况还表明,幼苗生长也需要光照和较开阔的生境条件,鸟类取食山黄麻果实及其将种子远距离传播适宜生境,正好具有这样的生态作用。     

南京中山植物园鸟类对香樟 果实（种子）的取食

香樟(Cinnamomum camphora)是亚热带地区广泛分布的常绿阔叶树种,其果实数量多、果期长,可为鸟类提供大量食物资源。2018年11月至2019年2月,借助Safari 10×26变焦双筒望远镜,采用焦点扫描法对南京中山植物园内访问香樟果实(种子)的鸟类行为进行观察,详细记录鸟类的种类、取食基质、取食次数、取食时间、取食数量和取食方式等信息。研究期间有效记录达48d,累计记录到27种鸟类1021次取食香樟果实(种子)行为,存在2种取食基质(地面和树上)和3种取食方式(整吞果实、啄食果肉和取食种子)。T检验显示,不同鸟类对香樟果实(种子)的取食次数存在显著差异(t=3.096,df=26,P 0.01);不同月份间鸟类对香樟香樟果实(种子)的平均访问只数、平均取食次数、平均取食时间和取食数量均存在极显著差异(P0.001)。白头鹎(Pycnonotussinensis)、乌鸫(Turdusmendarinus)和灰喜鹊(Cyanopicacyanus)是访问次数及取食量最多的3种鸟类。单因素方差分析(One-way ANOVA)表明,上述这3种鸟类的取食数量存在极显著差异(F3, 598=25.219,P 0.001)。按照时间统计,11月份访问的鸟类种类和数量最多,1月份鸟类的取食次数、时间和数量最多。鸟类的形态特征(体重、体长和嘴峰长)与取食数量呈显著正相关,其中,体重和体长对取食数量的影响比嘴峰长的影响更显著,但嘴峰长影响鸟类对果实的取食方式。在鸟类常活动和停歇的树木下方地面往往散落着较多表面洁净、无果肉包裹的香樟种子,且园内人工林和自然更新林地可见许多香樟幼苗,表明鸟类对香樟具有潜在传播作用。     

槲寄生的生物学特征及鸟类对其种子的传播

2001年9月至2002年1月在黑龙江省尚志市帽儿山林场研究了槲寄生(Viscum coloratum)的生物学特征及鸟类对其种子的传播。槲寄生寄主共有9种阔叶树,杨树占比例最大,达73．3％。78．0％的槲寄生个体以杨树为寄主。多数槲寄生着生在杨树主干侧枝(43％)和细侧枝(42％)上,主干上仅l5％。寄主和槲寄生本身都呈聚集分布。槲寄生有两种色型果实,在量度上无明显差异。果实由果皮、果肉和种子构成,种子外面包裹一层胶质层。在帽儿山秋、冬季常见的7种食果实鸟类中,只有太平鸟（Bombycilla garrulus)在野外觅食槲寄生果实,斑鸫（Turdus naumanii)在笼养无其它食物时才食,其余5种鸟类拒食。太平鸟在11月以后觅食槲寄生果实频率增大。除根寄生果实外,太平鸟共可食帽儿山常见l7种肉质果中的12种。太平鸟在吞食果实后,种子外包胶质层随粪便排出,形成“种子线”粘在树枝上,槲寄生种子被传播到适宜的生境,在春天萌根生长。笼养太平鸟时,种子在消化道的滞留时间约11min,这意味着在野外很长的扩散距离。槲寄生和太平鸟之间形成了特定的互利互生系统。     

火后恢复时间影响大兴安岭寒温带森林内部与边缘鸟类多样性

中重度火干扰通常会显著改变森林结构与功能,甚至引发森林演替,严重影响鸟类群落组成与多样性。大兴安岭是我国林火高发热点地区之一,但林火对鸟类多样性影响的研究较少,特别是对功能多样性的影响尚不清楚。本研究于2021年7–8月在大兴安岭地区的黑龙江南瓮河国家级自然保护区,采用样点法对森林鸟类展开调查,量化不同林火干扰时间下森林内部和边缘鸟类功能多样性的差异。同时,通过系统性文献检索,进一步比较了大兴安岭地区不同林分组成与鸟类功能多样性的关系。结果发现:(1)不同林火事件后,森林内部鸟类群落的组成差异较小,但边缘鸟类组成差异较大;(2)森林内部的鸟类功能丰富度和均匀度随火后恢复时间增加逐渐升高,并且在火后早期阶段森林边缘的功能丰富度更高;(3)随着火后恢复时间的增加,森林边缘的留鸟比例增加,夏候鸟比例减少;(4)在大兴安岭地区,针阔混交林中的鸟类功能丰富度显著高于兴安落叶松(Larix gmelinii)林。本研究建议在大兴安岭寒温带森林中,保持森林内部结构稳定性,同时提升火后早期阶段森林边缘的植被多样性,这有利于维持鸟类较高的功能丰富度和功能均匀度。     

食果鸟类对红楠种子的传播作用

肉质果植物通常依赖食果鸟类等取食果实后经消化道过程传播种子, 以完成种群的更新。红楠(Machilus thunbergii)是亚热带森林的代表性种类, 其果实具有依赖鸟类等动物取食后传播的特点。2012 年、2013 年在梅花山国家级自然保护区,研究了鸟类对红楠果实的取食及种子的传播作用。结果如下: 取食红楠种实的鸟类共计18 种, 其中整吞果实的鸟类12 种,啄取果肉的鸟类5 种, 啄食种子的鸟类1 种。整吞果实鸟类中4 种鹎科和2 种鸦科鸟类访问频次和取食量较大, 是主要的种子传播者。鸟类主要以呕吐方式传播种子。取食后初停栖点与母树距离及地面种子散布地点的分析结果表明, 鸟类可以远距离扩散种子。地面种实可被啮齿动物或蚁类再次捕食或搬运。研究表明, 红楠可以借助鸟类实现种子传播和种群更新。     

斑块生境中食果鸟类对南方红豆杉种子的取食和传播

生境斑块化对食果鸟类的移动行为产生影响,进而影响其对植物种子的传播格局和效率。南方红豆杉(Taxus chinensis var.mairei)是我国一级保护植物,在南方山区多因人为干扰而呈斑块状分布。2011年,2012年10月底到12月中,以分布于福建梅花山国家级自然保护区红豆杉生态园中南方红豆杉种群为对象,研究斑块生境中鸟类对南方红豆杉种子的取食和传播行为,并评估专性鸟类和泛性鸟类的传播效率。结果发现:南方红豆杉源斑块共吸引22种食果鸟类取食红豆杉种子,并与13种鸟类形成了种子传播关系。不同年间,黑短脚鹎(Hypsipetes leucocephalus)都是植物的主要传播鸟类,而其他鸟类传播者种类具有一定的年间变化。生境斑块化导致专性鸟类黑短脚鹎和泛性鸟类红嘴蓝鹊(Urocissa erythrorhyncha)种子传播效率差异。与红嘴蓝鹊相比,黑短脚鹎飞行的平均距离较短((16.3±11.0)m,Mean±SD,n=125),传播距离相对较近;且它们取食后偏好在源斑块中活动,喜栖息在同种成树、甜楮(Castanopsis eyrei)及其他阔叶树等栖树上。红嘴蓝鹊取食后常在斑块间移动,常停歇在同种成树和毛竹(Phyllostachys heterocycla)上,传播距离相对较远((24.9±20.0)m,Mean±SD,n=95)。空间一致性结果表明,黑短脚鹎移动距离对幼苗更新距离的空间一致性程度高;而红嘴蓝鹊偏好生境与幼苗更新生境一致性程度高。结果表明,斑块生境中植物能与专性鸟类、泛性鸟类之间形成种子传播互惠关系,且种子传播效率受到专性鸟类和泛性鸟类传播距离和传播生境的影响。     

甘肃兴隆山自然保护区森林演替对鸟类群落结构的影响

运用固定面积法调查了青林三个主要演替阶段森林(阔叶林、混交林和针叶林)的鸟类群落结构。结果表明,混交林中鸟类物种数、鸟类物种多样性和种团多样性最高,阔叶林最低。方差分析和聚类分析均表明,三种演替阶段森林的鸟类群落组成差异显著。所记录到的35种鸟类中有11种差异显著。其中,山雀科和科在阔叶林中占优势,而柳莺亚科在混交林和针叶林中占优势。食性种团中,阔叶林以食虫鸟和食果食虫鸟为主;混交林和针叶林均以食虫鸟、食果食虫鸟、食谷鸟和食果鸟为主。鉴于阔叶林和混交林有向顶级群落(针叶林)演替的趋势,建议采取人为干扰来维持三种演替阶段森林的面积,以便从景观水平上保护鸟类物种多样性。     

地埂植物篱对大型土壤动物多样性的影响

为了解地埂植物篱作为农田边界对于大型土壤动物多样性的影响,2006年冬季和2007年春季对桑园、桑埂、橘园、橘埂和农田大型土壤动物群落结构进行了调查,共获得大型土壤动物 4533只,隶属于3门、9纲、24类.结果表明,不同土地利用方式大型土壤动物群落的个体密度、类群数和DG多样性指数均存在显著差异.无论在冬季还是在春季,地埂植物篱桑埂和橘埂的个体密度、类群数和DG多样性指数均显著高于农田;冬季桑园和橘园的个体密度、类群数和DG多样性指数也显著高于农田.大型土壤动物群落的个体密度和类群数在垂直分布上与土壤含水量、全N和有机质含量的垂直分布规律一致,均随着土层深度的增加而递减.主成分分析表明,桑埂、橘埂和橘园的大型土壤动物群落组成与桑园和农田存在显著差异,桑园与农田也存在显著差异.地埂植物篱的存在对于大型土壤动物多样性保护具有重要意义.     

黄檗的更新特点及食果实鸟类对其种子的传播

在帽儿山实验林场和哈尔滨实验林场 ,黄檗母树下没有幼苗分布 ,不能进行天然更新 ,需要靠食果实鸟类等将果实和种子传播至远离母树的其他林下。捕食黄檗果实的食果实鸟类有 9种。其中 6种是食果肉鸟类 ,吞入果实后 ,消化果肉 ,而种子完整地随粪便排出而得以传播。其余 3种是食种子鸟类 ,没有传播作用。果实在鸟类消化道内的滞留时间达 2 0～ 30min ,具有很长的潜在传播距离。将鸟类消化后的种子与完整果实和人为去果肉种子进行萌发对比实验 ,消化后种子的累计萌发率与其余二者之间均没有显著性差异 ,说明食果实鸟类的消化 (道 )过程对种子萌发没有明显影响 ,同时证明果肉对种子萌发率没有显著影响 ,果肉中不含萌发抑制物质。黄檗提供多种鸟类以食物 ,而鸟类也同时以多种肉质果植物为食物。因此食果实鸟类和肉质果植物 (包括黄檗 )之间形成了松散的互利共生关系     

Effects of bird seed dispersal on diversity of the invaded plants in several hedge types

The plants that invaded as weeds including woody weeds were surveyed in three hedge types, Euonymus japonicus(HEa), Viburnum awabuki (HV), and Deutzia scabra (HD), respectively, and two hedge types, Buxus microphylla var. sinica (HBa, HBb) cultivated in different habitats in Nanjing Botanical Garden Mem. Sun Yat-Sen (NBG), Nanjing of East China, from April 2001 to November 2002. Another hedge type, Euonymus japonicus (HEb) was also investigated as a contrast, cultivated in Nanjing Agricultural University (NAU), about 3 km away from NBG, between April and November 2003. In total, 1230 plant indi-viduals were found to have invaded these six hedge types, and were identified as belonging to 70 species in 57 genera and 42 fami-lies. Among these plants, 1047 individuals of 55 species were adapted for bird seed dispersal, and 161 individuals of 10 species were adapted for wind seed dispersal, but the seed dispersal mode of the other 22 individuals of five species was uncertain. Among the six hedge types, we found a significantly higher occurrence of bird-dispersed plant species than that of wind-dispersed species ( t = 5.086, df = 10, P < 0.0001) or that of species with the unknown dispersal mode ( t = 8.446, df = 10, P < 0.0001). However, the difference of occurrence between wind-dispersed species and species with the unknown dispersal mode was not significant ( t = 1.977, df = 10, P = 0.076). The number of bird-dispersed plant species recorded in the five hedge types of NBG varied from 15 to 36, M ± SD = 25.6 ± 8.1, and the Shannon-Wiener indices were between 2.151 and 2.917, M ± SD = 2.671 ± 0.306. In contrast with NBG, only 12 species of bird-dispersed plants occurred in the hedge of NAU, with a lower Shannon-Wiener index of 1.679. As a result of cluster analysis, based on Bray-Curtis similarity indices of the invaded plant species adapted for bird seed dispersal, the similarity of species composition of bird-dispersed plants between hedges was influenced to a large extent by the surrounding habitat characteristics, e.g., locality, seed source diversity, distances from seed sources, seed dispersing birds, and frequency of human disturbance, rather than simply being dependent on the hedge tree species themselves. This research suggests that hedges could attract birds to utilize their interior shelter as habitats, and therefore, would have enhanced the deposition of bird-dispersed seeds, as well as have favored seed-ling survival under hedges. Consequently, avian seed dispersal has enriched the species composition of each of the six hedge types consisting of just a single tree species. Although survival and colonization of the migrated plants will inevitably cause some influ-ences on the aesthetic view of hedges, these invaded weeds or woody weeds could be managed and suppressed through regular arti-ficial pruning and by eradication. The results indicate the ecological significance of seed sources, bird seed dispersal, and shrub patches in promoting the successional development of woody vegetation.     

干扰对动物传播森林植物种子有效性影响的研究进展

干扰在森林生态系统中普遍存在,并影响森林的更新和演替.动物传播种子是种子更新的必经阶段,其对森林干扰的响应在一定程度上能够预测未来的森林群落组成和结构变化,对于明确森林演替方向具有重要意义.本文论述了森林干扰对动物传播种子有效性(包括动物传播种子的数量和质量)影响研究的生态学意义,全面揭示了自然干扰(火干扰、林窗干扰等)和人为干扰(生境破碎化、狩猎、采伐等)对动物传播种子数量、传播距离以及传播后幼苗更新影响的研究进展,指出干扰通过影响动物种群动态,进而造成动物传播种子数量发生了改变,动物传播种子的距离对干扰的响应基本表现出轻微负相关;干扰对传播后幼苗更新的影响结果因干扰类型的不同而复杂多变,干扰迹地环境因子的变化也影响着传播后的种子萌发和幼苗更新.干扰对动物传播种子有效性影响研究中存在的问题,主要表现为火干扰迹地恢复过程、增益性的干扰(如抚育、间伐、林窗)等对种子传播有效性影响研究的匮乏,以及忽略了温带森林内的干扰对动物传播种子的影响等.今后,应开展干扰对种子传播有效性的长期研究;对于干扰多发地带的森林,应高度重视增益性干扰影响动物传播植物种子的研究.     

Types of pollination and seed dispersal in Mediterranean plants

Abstract

Selected examples of pollen and seed dispersal in Mediterranean plants are described. The aspects of pollination considered are: comparison between cleistogamous and chasmogamous forms in the same species; differences in attractants and rewards; duration of pollen viability according to pollination syndrome. The aspects of seed dispersal considered are: presence or absence of specialized structures for dispersal; examples of active, passive and induced dispersal; animals involved in seed dispersal and their reward; type and functions of elaiosomes.     

鼠类扩散种子的几种标签标记法的比较

以四川省都江堰市亚热带常绿阔叶林内的优势鼠种——小泡巨鼠为实验动物,通过半自然状态围栏控制实验,检验了几种种子标签法对鼠类扩散植物种子的影响。结果表明:鱼线和细钢丝两种标记线在跟踪扩散种子命运上都是很有效的,但考虑到鱼线有时会被实验鼠咬断,细钢丝是更值得推广应用的一种标记线。3种标记牌(大塑料牌、小塑料牌和金属牌)在跟踪扩散种子命运上没有显著差异,但由于较大的尺寸和较强的可见度,大塑料牌更适合作为标签应用于野外种子扩散标记。     

旅游区游憩活动对鸟类扩散种子的影响

鸟类在植物种子传播中扮演着重要的角色。为了研究旅游活动对鸟类传播种子的影响,在兴凯湖自然保护区游憩区和非游憩区选择黄檗(Phellodendron amurense Rupr.)树种作为观测对象进行对比研究。结果显示,游人活动高峰时段游憩区鸟的取食行为发生了明显改变,取食鸟的物种丰富度、取食频度、取食时间以及种子取食量均显著减少。观察发现,游人活动干扰是导致鸟的取食行为发生改变的根本原因。取食行为的改变,减少了种子的扩散机会,进一步导致了幼苗更新量的减少以及相对较短的扩散距离。此外,对幼苗更新格局的检验发现,游憩区幼苗在空间分布上明显偏向景观内部。产生该结果的原因与鸟的飞离路径有关,来自景观外部的游人干扰压力可能是导致鸟的飞行路径发生改变的主要原因。结果表明,旅游活动可能通过干扰动植物关系对植物产生连锁影响。     

种子特征和结实量对啮齿动物取食和扩散种子行为的影响

为了深入了解啮齿动物在不同种子丰富度条件下对不同大小和单宁含量种子的觅食行为策略及其与植物种群更新的关系,在宁夏六盘山区的华北落叶松人工林,研究了不同大小和单宁含量[0%Tannin(T)、2%T、8%T和15%T]的人工种子在模拟结实小年和结实大年对啮齿动物取食和扩散行为的影响.结果表明: 啮齿动物消耗种子速度在结实小年更快,结实大年的种子消耗速度相对缓慢. 种子就地取食率(ISPR)在不同结实年份间无显著差异,扩散后取食率(PRAD)在结实小年显著高于结实大年,但前者的扩散后贮藏率(HRAD)显著低于后者;种子扩散后的取食距离(PDAD)和贮藏距离(HDAD)在结实小年均显著大于结实大年.在结实小年,大种子的PDAD和HDAD均大于小种子,前者在不同大小种子间均差异显著,而后者仅在2%T和15%T的不同大小种子间差异显著;在结实大年,除0%T外的其他单宁含量种子的PDAD和HDAD在不同大小种子间均差异显著.ISPR在中等单宁含量种子最大,高单宁含量种子最小;PRAD分别在结实小年的高单宁含量种子和结实大年的无单宁种子最大;不论在结实大年还是结实小年,HRAD均在高单宁含量种子最大,中等单宁含量种子最小.这说明结实大年可延缓啮齿动物对种子的消耗速率,提高种子的HRAD,但种子扩散距离减小;啮齿动物在结实大年和小年均表现出对大种子的扩散偏好,且大种子被扩散的距离更远;啮齿动物在不同结实年份均偏好于就地取食中等单宁含量种子,而扩散高单宁含量种子.     

鸟类取食中国沙棘果实的方式及其对种子的传播作用

2003年9月～2004年3月,定期观察取食中国沙棘果实的鸟类及其取食方式。共记录取食中国沙棘果实的鸟类18种,其取食果实的方式主要有：1)直接在树冠上吞食果实,有时候在吞食后将种子呕出;2)将果实从树上衔走后,在栖息处吞食或啄食;3)将果实啄落至地面,然后取食果肉和种子,留下果皮;4)啄破果皮,吸食果肉,留下果皮及种子;5)从顶端将果皮啄破后,仅取食里面的种子。不同的取食方式决定了它们对沙棘种子的传播作用不同。收集鸟粪便中的种子与完整的干果实及人工剥离果肉和内果皮的种子做萌发对比实验,结果表明,鸟类消化道过程对种子的萌发有一定影响,但萌发率仍较高。沙棘为多种鸟类提供食物,而鸟类则为沙棘传播种子,它们之间形成一种互利关系。     

Fruits foraging patterns and seed dispersal effect of frugivorous birds on Hippophae rhamnoides sinensis

Behaviors of 18 species of birds eating fruits of Hippophae rhamnoides spp.sinensis were observed from September 2003 to March 2004.Their foraging patterns were found to be very different and Can be divided into five classes:(1)direct swallowing the fruits on crown of the shrubs and sometimes regurgitating seeds soon after;(2)carrying the fruits to their perching sites and swallowing;(3)pecking the fruits from the shrubs to the ground,eating pulp and seeds but leaving pericarp;(4)pecking through the pericarp,eating pulp and leaving pericarp and seeds;(5)pecking through the pericarp on the top of fruits,and only eating seeds.These foraging patterns have different effects on seed dispersal of H.rhamnoides spp.sinensis.The germination experiment of three groups of seeds(seeds from feces,dry fruits and extracted seeds from dry fruits)was carried out.Although ingestion processes of birds had some adverse effects on the seed germination of H.rhamnoides spp.sinensis,the seeds from feces still have a relatively higher germination ratio.H.rhamnoides spp.sinensis provides food to a variety of frugivorous birds.and the birds disperse its seeds.Thus,a mutually beneficial relationship between the bird and the seed is formed.     

Myrmecochory in Australia's seasonal tropics: Effects of disturbance on distance dispersal

Abstract Successful ecosystem restoration requires the re-establishment of fundamental ecological processes, many of which involve plant-animal interactions. Myrmecochory (seed dispersal by ants) is a particularly important plant-animal mutualism in Australia, but little is known about its response to either disturbance or restoration following disturbance. Here we investigate the effects of disturbance on seed dispersal by ants, and the extent to which the ant-seed relationship has re-established at sites undergoing rehabilitation, at Ranger uranium mine in the seasonal tropics of Australia's Northern Territory. We focused on the composition of seed-dispersing ant assemblages, rates of seed removal by ants, and the dispersal curves generated by ants, as determined by observations of removal from seed depots. Ten sites were studied, comprising four ‘natural’ (undisturbed) sites representing a range of savanna habitats occurring in the region, four disturbed sites representing a range of habitat disturbance but with intact soil, and two waste rock sites subject to preliminary revegetation trials. A total of 22 ant species from 10 genera were observed during 154 observations of seed removal, most commonly Rhytidoponera aurata (53 records), Monomorium (rothsteini gp) sp. 1 (14), Iridomyrmex sanguineus (13), Iridomyrmex pallidus (12) and Pleidole sp. 3 (10). Removal rates (over 3 h) averaged 29% across all sites and time periods, varying markedly both between and within sites. However, mean rates of removal were similar between natural, disturbed and waste rock sites (29%, 28% and 31%, respectively). A high incidence (62% of all depots) of'aril robbing’ by ants (primarily Monomorium spp.) eating arils in situ, without removal, was observed. Dispersal distances varied markedly between ant species, with Iridomyrmex sanguineus having both the highest mean (7.25m) and maximum (13.08 m) dispersal distances. Species of Pheidole typically dispersed seeds less than 0.5 m, and Meranoplus, Monomorium and Tetramorium spp. only ever moved seeds a few centimetres, usually dropping and abandoning them before reaching the nests. The dispersal curves characteristic of each site varied markedly due to the different composition of seed-dispersing ants. The mean dispersal distance at disturbed sites (3.91 m) was significantly higher than at natural sites (2.19 m), and the curves were strongly skewed in the former, but relatively uniform in the latter. The implications of these differences for recovery following disturbance are unclear. At rehabilitated waste rock sites, all observed removals involved distances less than 0.5 m, with a mean of 17 cm. This lack of effective ant-seed relationships might represent a barrier to further vegetation development at rehabilitated sites.