Uncovering Seed-Handling and Nest Benefits in an Eastern North American Ant-Plant Seed Dispersal Mutualism

Authors: Julian Marshall, Rosebelle Ines

Field of Study: Science, Technology, Engineering, and/or Math

Faculty Mentors: Kirsten Prior

Easel: 42

Timeslot: Midday

Abstract: In eastern North American forests, Aphaenogaster ants and understory plants are part of a widespread and prominent seed dispersal mutualism. In this mutualism, plants produce seeds with a fatty-acid-rich package that attracts and provides ants with nutrition and the plants experience lower competition. Aphaenogaster ants disperse seeds by moving them from the parent plant into the soil-based ant nest where the ants remove the elaiosome and feed it to their brood. Seeds without elaiosomes are then discarded, sometimes in the nest, and sometimes outside of the nest. Seed deposition locations may provide benefits to germination and establishment between ant species. Between two Aphaenogaster species, A. rudis handles more seeds and processes them faster than A. picea, but further benefits remain unknown. Increased germination rates of seeds that were handled were found. To understand what caused differences in germination rates, soil character from natural and experimental Aphaenogaster nests is being investigated.