Ants disperse seeds farther in habitat patches with corridors

Burt, Melissa A.; Resasco, Julian; Haddad, Nick M.; Whitehead, Susan R.

doi:10.1002/ecs2.4324

Ants disperse seeds farther in habitat patches with corridors

Journal Article · Wed Dec 14 00:00:00 EST 2022 · Ecosphere

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4324· OSTI ID:1967360

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Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States); USDA Forest Service-Savannah River
University of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States)
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (United States)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States)

Habitat fragmentation impacts ecosystems worldwide through habitat loss, reduced connectivity, and edge effects. Yet, these landscape factors are often confounded, leaving much to be investigated about their relative effects, especially on species interactions. In a landscape experiment, we investigated the consequences of connectivity and edge effects for seed dispersal by ants. We found that ants dispersed seeds farther in habitat patches connected by corridors, but only in patch centers. We did not see an effect on the total number of seeds moved or the rate ants detected seeds. Furthermore, we did not see any differences in ant community composition across patch types, suggesting that shifts in ant behavior or other factors increased ant seed dispersal in patches connected by corridors. Long-distance seed dispersal by ants that requires an accumulation of short-distance dispersal events over generations may be an underappreciated mechanism through which corridors increase plant diversity.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (USF); USDOE Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security (AU)

Contributing Organization:: USDA Forest Service-Savannah River

Grant/Contract Number:: 89303720SEM000037; AI09-00SR22188

OSTI ID:: 1967360

Report Number(s):: 22-13--P; 22-13-P

Journal Information:: Ecosphere, Journal Name: Ecosphere Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 13; ISSN 2150-8925

Publisher:: WileyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
ants
connectivity
corridors
edge effects
fragmentation
myrmecochory
seed dispersal

Ants disperse seeds farther in habitat patches with corridors

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