Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 124-131 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | American Naturalist |
| Volume | 179 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2012 |
Abstract
Seed dispersal by ants (myrmecochory) is widespread, and seed adaptations to myrmecochory are common, especially in the form of fatty appendices (elaiosomes). In a recent study, slugs were identified as seed dispersers of myrmecochores in a central European beech forest. Here we used 105 beech forest sites to test whether myrmecochore presence and abundance is related to ant or gastropod abundance and whether experimentally exposed seeds are removed by gastropods. Myrmecochorous plant cover was positively related to gastropod abundance but was negatively related to ant abundance. Gastropods were responsible for most seed removal and elaiosome damage, whereas insects (and rodents) played minor roles. These gastropod effects on seeds were independent of region or forest management. We suggest that terrestrial gastropods can generally act as seed dispersers of myrmecochorous plants and even substitute myrmecochory, especially where ants are absent or uncommon.
Keywords
- Arion, Gastropodochory, Myrmecochory, Seed dispersal, Slug
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Sustainable Development Goals
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In: American Naturalist, Vol. 179, No. 1, 01.2012, p. 124-131.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Are gastropods, rather than ants, important dispersers of seeds of myrmecochorous forest herbs?
T2 - Natural History Note
AU - Türke, Manfred
AU - Andreas, Kerstin
AU - Gossner, Martin M.
AU - Kowalski, Esther
AU - Lange, Markus
AU - Boch, Steffen
AU - Socher, Stephanie A.
AU - Müller, Jörg
AU - Prati, Daniel
AU - Fischer, Markus
AU - Meyhöfer, Rainer
AU - Weisser, Wolfgang W.
PY - 2012/1
Y1 - 2012/1
N2 - Seed dispersal by ants (myrmecochory) is widespread, and seed adaptations to myrmecochory are common, especially in the form of fatty appendices (elaiosomes). In a recent study, slugs were identified as seed dispersers of myrmecochores in a central European beech forest. Here we used 105 beech forest sites to test whether myrmecochore presence and abundance is related to ant or gastropod abundance and whether experimentally exposed seeds are removed by gastropods. Myrmecochorous plant cover was positively related to gastropod abundance but was negatively related to ant abundance. Gastropods were responsible for most seed removal and elaiosome damage, whereas insects (and rodents) played minor roles. These gastropod effects on seeds were independent of region or forest management. We suggest that terrestrial gastropods can generally act as seed dispersers of myrmecochorous plants and even substitute myrmecochory, especially where ants are absent or uncommon.
AB - Seed dispersal by ants (myrmecochory) is widespread, and seed adaptations to myrmecochory are common, especially in the form of fatty appendices (elaiosomes). In a recent study, slugs were identified as seed dispersers of myrmecochores in a central European beech forest. Here we used 105 beech forest sites to test whether myrmecochore presence and abundance is related to ant or gastropod abundance and whether experimentally exposed seeds are removed by gastropods. Myrmecochorous plant cover was positively related to gastropod abundance but was negatively related to ant abundance. Gastropods were responsible for most seed removal and elaiosome damage, whereas insects (and rodents) played minor roles. These gastropod effects on seeds were independent of region or forest management. We suggest that terrestrial gastropods can generally act as seed dispersers of myrmecochorous plants and even substitute myrmecochory, especially where ants are absent or uncommon.
KW - Arion
KW - Gastropodochory
KW - Myrmecochory
KW - Seed dispersal
KW - Slug
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=83655164466&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1086/663195
DO - 10.1086/663195
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:83655164466
VL - 179
SP - 124
EP - 131
JO - American Naturalist
JF - American Naturalist
SN - 0003-0147
IS - 1
ER -