Ant nests as primary habitats ofSilybum marianum (Compositae) |
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Authors: | Avinoam Danin Yoram Yom-Tov |
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Affiliation: | (1) Department of Botany, The Hebrew University, 91904 Jerusalem, Israel;(2) Department of Zoology, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel |
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Abstract: | The common Mediterranean ruderal thistleSilybum marianum is associated with nutrient-rich sites. Its wind-dispersed achenes possess an oily food body, that is attractive to harvester-ants. Following removal of the oily body, the achenes are deposited in the refuse zone together with rich organic material and soil removed from the nest; while in the nest the achenes are partly protected from fires. The thistle grows successfully in the nutrient-enriched refuse zone and thus dominates patches in the grassland. Preadaptations to live in association with harvester-ants enableS. marianum to occur also on marking stations of male gazelle, on cattle dung deposits, and in synanthropic ruderal habitats. |
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Keywords: | Angiosperms Compositae Silybum marianum Formicidae Messor semirufus Myrmecochory preadaptations synanthropic plant grasslands |
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