Preferential removal of non-injured seeds by an omnivorous ant,Tetramorium tsushimae Emery,in the seed dispersal of Chamaesyce maculata (L.) small |
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Authors: | Ohnishi Yoshihiro K. Suzuki Nobuhiko |
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Affiliation: | (1) The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, Korimoto 1-21-24, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan;(2) Department of Applied Biological Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Saga University, Honjo 1, Saga 840-8502, Japan |
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Abstract: | To elucidate roles of an omnivorous ant, Tetramorium tsushimae Emery, against pre-dispersal seed consumers in the seed dispersal of Chamaesyce maculata (L.) Small, the effects of the seed injury by a stinkbug, Nysius plebeius Distat, on the seed removal by the ant and the germination rate were examined in laboratory experiments. The ants of T. tsushimae removed more frequently non-injured seeds than injured seeds. Therefore, low removal frequency of injured seeds by T. tsushimae ants might facilitate the increase in removal frequency of non-injured seeds, consequently leading to efficient seed dispersal of C. maculata. The germination rate of injured seeds that N. plebeius nymphs sucked was conspicuously lower than the non-injured seeds. The germination rate of seeds that T. tsushimae ants carried out of their nest was similar to that of the non-injured seeds. Thus, seed removal by T. tsushimae ants has hardly effects on the germination of these seeds. Therefore, the preferential removal of non-injured seeds by T. tsushimae ants might contribute to the dispersal success of C. maculata seeds. These results might show a novel interaction between myrmecochorous plants and ants in which the assessment of seed quality by ants contributes to the reproductive success of plants. |
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