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Differential dispersal of Chamaesyce maculata seeds by two ant species in Japan

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Abstract

Seed dispersal by ants (myrmecochory) is a widely distributed plant–animal interaction in many ecosystems, and it has been regarded as a generalized (multiple species) interaction in which specialization on specific ant partners is uncommon. In this paper, we demonstrate species-specific seed dispersal of spotted spurge (Chamaesyce maculata) by ants in Japan. C. maculata produces seeds from summer to autumn in Japan. The seeds produced in autumn are carried by two ant species, Tetramorium tsushimae and Pheidole noda. We performed laboratory experiments to investigate the fate of C. maculata seeds in the nests of T. tsushimae and P. noda. P. noda consumed the seeds in the nest and rarely carried seeds out of the nest, while T. tsushimae consumed only the seed coat, and subsequently carried the seeds out of the nest. Removal of the seed coat by T. tsushimae may increase seed survival by reducing their susceptibility to infection by fungi. We also observed ant responses to filter paper soaked with an aqueous extract of the seed coat. P. noda did not react to the filter paper, but T. tsushimae carried the filter paper into their nest. Analysis by high-pressure liquid chromatography revealed that the aqueous extract contained at least four sugars and one unknown substance. Myrmecochory has been regarded as a generalized interaction with specialization for specific ant partners uncommon. However, our study suggests there is a species-specific interaction in seed dispersal by ants in autumn-flowering individuals of C. maculata in Japan.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful for the assistance provided by the members of the Laboratory of System Ecology, Saga University and Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University. We thank S. Teranishi, M. Ushio and K. Hashimoto for comments on this paper. We also thank D. Hembry and M. Whitaker for correcting the English of the text. This study was partly supported by the Global COE program A06 of Kyoto University, and by Grants-in-Aid from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture of Japan (Grant nos. 14540582 and 19570022).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Biological Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Saga University, Honjo 1, Saga, 840-8502, Japan

    Yoshihiro K. Ohnishi & Nobuhiko Suzuki

  2. Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University, 509-3, 2-chome, Hiranocho, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2113, Japan

    Noboru Katayama

  3. Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Toikanbetsu 131, Horonobe-cho, Hokkaido, 098-2943, Japan

    Noboru Katayama

Authors
  1. Yoshihiro K. Ohnishi
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  2. Noboru Katayama
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  3. Nobuhiko Suzuki
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Correspondence to Noboru Katayama.

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Yoshihiro K. Ohnishi and Nobuhiko Suzuki—The late doctors.

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Ohnishi, Y.K., Katayama, N. & Suzuki, N. Differential dispersal of Chamaesyce maculata seeds by two ant species in Japan. Plant Ecol 214, 907–915 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-013-0217-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-013-0217-7

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