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Abstract:

Selective seed consumption by harvester ants may affect seed abundance and composition and, ultimately, plant communities. We evaluated the influence of seed size on preferences and diet of Pogonomyrmex mendozanus, P. rastratus, and P. inermis in the central Monte Desert, Argentina. In choice experiments with Pappophorum spp. seeds of different sizes, P. mendozanus and P. rastratus preferred large seeds, maximizing energy reward. P. inermis showed a less-marked preference for large seeds, which was probably due to morphological constraints imposed by its small body size. Under natural conditions, none of the three species selected larger Pappophorum spp. seeds probably because of high travel and handling costs. Seeds of intermediate size predominated in the diet of the three species but a slight size match was detected as P. mendozanus carried larger seeds than P. rastratus and this than P. inermis, matching body-size differences. Thus, ants probably maximize energy reward but face morphological restrictions and higher costs when carrying and holding large seeds. While seeds of intermediate size are the most vulnerable ones to ant predation, small seeds are favored, as they are abundant in the soil seed bank and lowly predated. © The Ecological Society of Japan 2009.

Registro:

Documento: Artículo
Título:Influence of seed size on feeding preferences and diet composition of three sympatric harvester ants in the central Monte Desert, Argentina
Autor:Pirk, G.I.; de Casenave, J.L.
Filiación:Grupo de Investigación en Ecología de Comunidades de Desierto, Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Piso 4, Pab. 2, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EHA Buenos Aires, Argentina
Laboratorio Ecotono, INIBIOMA, CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Pasaje Gutiérrez 1125, 8400 Bariloche, Argentina
Palabras clave:Ants; Community ecology; Desert ecosystems; Pogonomyrmex; Seed size; abundance; ant; body size; community ecology; desert; feeding behavior; morphology; plant community; seed predation; seed size; sympatry; Argentina; Mendoza; Monte Desert; Formicidae; Pappophorum; Pogonomyrmex; Pogonomyrmex inermis; Pogonomyrmex rastratus
Año:2010
Volumen:25
Número:2
Página de inicio:439
Página de fin:445
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11284-009-0673-7
Título revista:Ecological Research
Título revista abreviado:Ecol. Res.
ISSN:09123814
CODEN:ECRSE
Registro:https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_09123814_v25_n2_p439_Pirk

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Citas:

---------- APA ----------
Pirk, G.I. & de Casenave, J.L. (2010) . Influence of seed size on feeding preferences and diet composition of three sympatric harvester ants in the central Monte Desert, Argentina. Ecological Research, 25(2), 439-445.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11284-009-0673-7
---------- CHICAGO ----------
Pirk, G.I., de Casenave, J.L. "Influence of seed size on feeding preferences and diet composition of three sympatric harvester ants in the central Monte Desert, Argentina" . Ecological Research 25, no. 2 (2010) : 439-445.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11284-009-0673-7
---------- MLA ----------
Pirk, G.I., de Casenave, J.L. "Influence of seed size on feeding preferences and diet composition of three sympatric harvester ants in the central Monte Desert, Argentina" . Ecological Research, vol. 25, no. 2, 2010, pp. 439-445.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11284-009-0673-7
---------- VANCOUVER ----------
Pirk, G.I., de Casenave, J.L. Influence of seed size on feeding preferences and diet composition of three sympatric harvester ants in the central Monte Desert, Argentina. Ecol. Res. 2010;25(2):439-445.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11284-009-0673-7