Seed dispersal by ants in the semi-arid Caatinga of North-East Brazil.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Myrmecochory is a conspicuous feature of several sclerophyll ecosystems around the world but it has received little attention in the semi-arid areas of South America. This study addresses the importance of seed dispersal by ants in a 2500-km(2) area of the Caatinga ecosystem (north-east Brazil) and investigates ant-derived benefits to the plant through myrmecochory.

Methods

Seed manipulation and dispersal by ants was investigated during a 3-year period in the Xingó region. Both plant and ant assemblages involved in seed dispersal were described and ant behaviour was characterized. True myrmecochorous seeds of seven Euphorbiaceae species (i.e. elaiosome-bearing seeds) were used in experiments designed to: (1) quantify the rates of seed cleaning/removal and

SUBMITTER: Leal IR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2802904 | biostudies-literature | 2007 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature