Influence of seed size on feeding preferences and diet composition of three sympatric harvester ants in the central Monte Desert, Argentina

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 experi...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Pirk, G.I., de Casenave, J.L.
Formato: JOUR
Materias:
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 inermis
Pogonomyrmex rastratus
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_09123814_v25_n2_p439_Pirk
Aporte de:
Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA) de Universidad de Buenos Aires
id todo:paper_09123814_v25_n2_p439_Pirk
record_format dspace
spelling todo:paper_09123814_v25_n2_p439_Pirk2023-10-03T15:44:39Z Influence of seed size on feeding preferences and diet composition of three sympatric harvester ants in the central Monte Desert, Argentina Pirk, G.I. de Casenave, J.L. 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 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. Fil:Pirk, G.I. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Fil:de Casenave, J.L. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. JOUR info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ar http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_09123814_v25_n2_p439_Pirk
institution Universidad de Buenos Aires
institution_str I-28
repository_str R-134
collection Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA)
topic 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
spellingShingle 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
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
topic_facet 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
description 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.
format JOUR
author Pirk, G.I.
de Casenave, J.L.
author_facet Pirk, G.I.
de Casenave, J.L.
author_sort Pirk, G.I.
title Influence of seed size on feeding preferences and diet composition of three sympatric harvester ants in the central Monte Desert, Argentina
title_short Influence of seed size on feeding preferences and diet composition of three sympatric harvester ants in the central Monte Desert, Argentina
title_full Influence of seed size on feeding preferences and diet composition of three sympatric harvester ants in the central Monte Desert, Argentina
title_fullStr Influence of seed size on feeding preferences and diet composition of three sympatric harvester ants in the central Monte Desert, Argentina
title_full_unstemmed Influence of seed size on feeding preferences and diet composition of three sympatric harvester ants in the central Monte Desert, Argentina
title_sort influence of seed size on feeding preferences and diet composition of three sympatric harvester ants in the central monte desert, argentina
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_09123814_v25_n2_p439_Pirk
work_keys_str_mv AT pirkgi influenceofseedsizeonfeedingpreferencesanddietcompositionofthreesympatricharvesterantsinthecentralmontedesertargentina
AT decasenavejl influenceofseedsizeonfeedingpreferencesanddietcompositionofthreesympatricharvesterantsinthecentralmontedesertargentina
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