Relocation of Croton sonderianus (Euphorbiaceae) seeds by Pheidole fallax Mayr (Formicidae): a case of post-dispersal seed protection by ants?

• Published in: Neotropical entomology Vol. 40; no. 4; pp. 440 - 444
• Main Authors: Lobo, D, Tabarelli, M, Leal, I.R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Entomological Society of Brazil 01.08.2011; Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil
• Subjects: Animals; Ants - physiology; Brazil; Croton; ENTOMOLOGY; Euphorbiaceae; nests; Pheidole; Seed Dispersal; seed predation; seeds; vegetation; Brazil; Brazil; caatinga; semi-arid vegetation; seed dispersal; myrmecochory
• ISSN: 1519-566X; 1678-8052; 1678-8052
• DOI: 10.1590/s1519-566x2011000400005

Although seed dispersal by ants might reduce seed predation near the parent plants, predation on discarded seeds clustered on nest refuse piles may reduce any initial benefit provided by seed removal. Here we examine the fate of Croton sonderianus seeds that were discarded by Pheidole fallax Mayr ants on their nest refuses in caatinga vegetation of northeast Brazil. We collected all seeds discarded in refuse piles of 20 nests and within a radius of 50 cm from their borders, and examined them for evidence of predation. A total of 3,017 seeds were recorded either located in the P. fallax refuse piles (89.1%) or nest vicinity (10.9%). Predation was three fold higher in nest vicinity as compared to refuse piles. By removing seeds from beneath parent plants and relocating then to refuse piles, P. fallax is possibly providing double protection services for C. sonderianus seeds. Our findings represent the first evidence for predator-avoidance as benefit for plants resulting from ant seed-dispersal in the neotropics.