Removal of Nonmyrmecochorous Seeds by Ants: Role of Ants in Cattle Grasslands
Livestock production models prevailing in Colombian Andes are simplified treeless pastures for extensive ranching, with the consequent reduction of environmental services, such as seed dispersal, due to lack of primary dispersers, scarcity of adequate sites for seedling establishment and competition...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2012-01-01
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| Series: | Psyche: A Journal of Entomology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/951029 |
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| author | Selene Escobar-Ramírez Sebastián Duque Natalia Henao Alejandra Hurtado-Giraldo Inge Armbrecht |
| author_facet | Selene Escobar-Ramírez Sebastián Duque Natalia Henao Alejandra Hurtado-Giraldo Inge Armbrecht |
| author_sort | Selene Escobar-Ramírez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Livestock production models prevailing in Colombian Andes are simplified treeless pastures for extensive ranching, with the consequent reduction of environmental services, such as seed dispersal, due to lack of primary dispersers, scarcity of adequate sites for seedling establishment and competition with grasses. This study evaluated if, in these harsh environments, ants can promote the colonization of arboreal species through directed dispersion of seeds towards the nests. Ten seeds of each species were offered to ants in six grazing pastures. Ants removed 25% of the seeds (1827) in 48 hours. Preference for arillated and small-to-medium sized seeds, such as Pithecellobium dulce, and Guazuma ulmifolia, was observed. Cyphomyrmex major, Ectatomma ruidum, Solenopsis geminata and Atta cephalotes were the key ant species in seed removal. It was concluded that functional ant groups present in the pastures could contribute to secondary dispersion of seeds with potential for restoration. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f3f0a4f52e414d4cbb78878618ac14c5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0033-2615 1687-7438 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Psyche: A Journal of Entomology |
| spelling | doaj-art-f3f0a4f52e414d4cbb78878618ac14c52025-02-03T01:23:54ZengWileyPsyche: A Journal of Entomology0033-26151687-74382012-01-01201210.1155/2012/951029951029Removal of Nonmyrmecochorous Seeds by Ants: Role of Ants in Cattle GrasslandsSelene Escobar-Ramírez0Sebastián Duque1Natalia Henao2Alejandra Hurtado-Giraldo3Inge Armbrecht4Department of Biology, University of Valle, A.A., 25360 Cali, ColombiaDepartment of Biology, University of Valle, A.A., 25360 Cali, ColombiaDepartment of Biology, University of Valle, A.A., 25360 Cali, ColombiaDepartment of Biology, University of Valle, A.A., 25360 Cali, ColombiaDepartment of Biology, University of Valle, A.A., 25360 Cali, ColombiaLivestock production models prevailing in Colombian Andes are simplified treeless pastures for extensive ranching, with the consequent reduction of environmental services, such as seed dispersal, due to lack of primary dispersers, scarcity of adequate sites for seedling establishment and competition with grasses. This study evaluated if, in these harsh environments, ants can promote the colonization of arboreal species through directed dispersion of seeds towards the nests. Ten seeds of each species were offered to ants in six grazing pastures. Ants removed 25% of the seeds (1827) in 48 hours. Preference for arillated and small-to-medium sized seeds, such as Pithecellobium dulce, and Guazuma ulmifolia, was observed. Cyphomyrmex major, Ectatomma ruidum, Solenopsis geminata and Atta cephalotes were the key ant species in seed removal. It was concluded that functional ant groups present in the pastures could contribute to secondary dispersion of seeds with potential for restoration.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/951029 |
| spellingShingle | Selene Escobar-Ramírez Sebastián Duque Natalia Henao Alejandra Hurtado-Giraldo Inge Armbrecht Removal of Nonmyrmecochorous Seeds by Ants: Role of Ants in Cattle Grasslands Psyche: A Journal of Entomology |
| title | Removal of Nonmyrmecochorous Seeds by Ants: Role of Ants in Cattle Grasslands |
| title_full | Removal of Nonmyrmecochorous Seeds by Ants: Role of Ants in Cattle Grasslands |
| title_fullStr | Removal of Nonmyrmecochorous Seeds by Ants: Role of Ants in Cattle Grasslands |
| title_full_unstemmed | Removal of Nonmyrmecochorous Seeds by Ants: Role of Ants in Cattle Grasslands |
| title_short | Removal of Nonmyrmecochorous Seeds by Ants: Role of Ants in Cattle Grasslands |
| title_sort | removal of nonmyrmecochorous seeds by ants role of ants in cattle grasslands |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/951029 |
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