Intense Seed Predation by Harvester Ants on a Rare Mustard

摘要: Abstract: Seed predation can significantly restrict the reproductive output and fitness of individual plants, its populationlevel consequences may be most severe for plants that are rare or endangered. The Owyhee harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex salinus, actively removes fruits seeds slickspot peppergrass, Lepidium papilliferum, a mustard endemic to Idaho. We conducted field study investigate extent which P. salinus contributes seed loss in L. papilliferum. On average, papilliferum exposed experienced direct > 40% their mature fruits, whereas shielded from ants suffered almost no fruit loss. More than 90% placed on ground beneath were scavenged by ants. All collected returned ants' nests transported below ground. A search 30 middens revealed large quantities empty husks, but intact seeds. Thus, it doe...