Seed consumption and dispersal of ant-dispersed plants by slugs

摘要: In beech-dominated forests in Central Europe, many spring geophytes show adaptations to seed dispersal by ants (myrmecochory). Ants, however, can be rare such moist forests. Motivated observations of slug feeding on seeds we investigated the consumption two plant species, Anemone nemorosa and Asarum europaeum, slugs, a series experiments. predation experiment beech forest, found that removal was strongly reduced when gastropods were excluded from depots. The contribution insects, including ants, rodents relatively less but differed between May July. laboratory, particular Arion sp., consumed both species. Slugs either elaiosomes or swallowed intact. Swallowed defecated undamaged germinated as well control buried overwinter, indicating potential for slugs. We also recovered myrmecochores faeces several slugs caught release moved up 14.6 m (mean 4.4 m) 15 h, which is median gut passage time based measurements made laboratory. slug-defecated offered rodents, these attractive than seeds, suggesting through reduces risk. Our results demonstrate are significant consumers entire ant-dispersed plants they function dispersers plants.