Secondary seed dispersal of Ricinus communis linnaeus (Euphorbiaceae) by ants in secondary growth vegetation in Minas Gerais
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Universidade Federal de Viçosa
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In this study, I tested the efficacy of ants as secondary seed dispersers of Ricinus communisin southeastern Brazil. In a natural population of 143 individuals, I determined the ballistic dispersal distancefor 62 seeds and 100 additional seeds were experimentally offered to ants in groups of ten seeds along a transectof 50 m. Fifty-three seeds were removed by ants, mainly by the leafcutter Atta sexdens (90.4%). The dispersaldistance by ants was high, compared to the global average (4.38 m ± 0.74 m vs. 0.96 m), but was lower thanthe ballistic distance (7.27 m ± 0.13 m). Ants increased the total dispersal distance (8.66 m ± 0.60 m), butthe main benefit for the plant was the directed dispersal, with seed deposition on the enriched soil of antnests.
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