Scavenging in Mediterranean ecosystems: effect of the invasive Argentine ant

摘要: Above-ground invertebrates may represent a high proportion of animal biomass, but few data are available on their fate after death. In Mediterranean ant communities, they frequently scavenged by ants. Here, we assessed the consequences Argentine invasion removal arthropod corpses in Donana National Park (SW Spain). three natural habitats that differed degree vegetation cover (i.e. protection for ants against temperatures), experimentally provided dead Drosophila, and observed disappearance over 60-min period at different times day year. The used were isolated cork oak trees, pine tree forest dry scrubland; compared invaded with uninvaded plots each. Oak trees most habitat, while scrubland was least only one where coexisted native species. accordance this invasion, removed highest percentage flies lowest scrubland. Its performance as scavenger higher than it reduced temperatures, when species highly efficient. saturated distribution colony seems to be key its efficiency. We discuss how occurrence efficiency could affect nutrient cycling progression invasion.