Attractiveness of fallen fleshy fruits to ants depends on previous handling by frugivores

Author(s)

Bieber, Ana Gabriela D. ^[1] ; Silva, Paulo S. D. ^[2] ; Oliveira, Paulo S. ^[3]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, UNICAMP, Inst Biol, Programa Posgrad Ecol, BR-13083862 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Sudoeste Bahia, Dept Estudos Basicos & Instrumentais, BR-45700000 Itapetinga, BA - Brazil

^[3] Univ Estadual Campinas, UNICAMP, Inst Biol, Dept Biol Anim, BR-13083862 Campinas, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ECOSCIENCE; v. 20, n. 1, p. 85-89, 2013.
• Web of Science Citations: 8

Abstract

Interactions between ants and vertebrate-dispersed fleshy fruits are common on the floor of tropical forests. These interactions are considered beneficial to seeds if ants clean the seed (which may prevent fungal contamination and/ or increase germination success) or act as secondary fine-scale dispersers (depositing the seed in nearby nutrient-enriched nest sites). Benefits to seeds, however, may be constrained by limited ant access to fruits. Here, we experimentally tested whether ant access to fallen fleshy fruits of Psychotria suterella (Rubiaceae) can be affected by previous handling (including ingestion) by birds. We found that mandibulated fruits and fruits embedded in feces are more prone to be visited by ants compared to entirely intact fruits. Moreover, the number of ant species per station was higher for vertebrate-handled fruit categories. We suggest that ongoing vertebrate loss in tropical forests may affect this highly opportunistic and potentially mutualistic interaction. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/18580-8 - Studies on Neotropical ants: interactions with herbivorous insects, behavioral ecology and social organization
• Grantee: Paulo Sergio Moreira Carvalho de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants