Showing papers on "Ant colony published in 1986"
TL;DR: Of 36 plant species surveyed, 6 were significantly associated with nests of the desert seed-harvester ant Veromessor pergandei or Pogonomyrmex rugosus; two other plant species were significantly absent from ant nests.
Abstract: Of 36 plant species surveyed, 6 were significantly associated with nests of the desert seed-harvester ant Veromessor pergandei or Pogonomyrmex rugosus; two other plant species were significantly absent from ant nests. Seeds of two common desert annuals, Schismus arabicus and Plantago insularis, realize a 15.6 and 6.5 fold increase (respectively) in number of fruits or seeds produced per plant growing in ant nest refuse piles compared to nearby controls. Mass of individual S. arabicus seed produced by plants growing in refuse piles also increased significantly. Schismus arabicus, P. insularis and other plants associated with ant nests do not have seeds with obvious appendages attractive to ants. Dispersal and reproductive increase of such seeds may represent a relatively primitive form of ant-plant dispersal devoid of seed morphological specializations. Alternatively, evolution of specialized seed structures for dispersal may be precluded by the assemblage of North American seed-harvester ants whose workers are significantly larger than those ants normally associated with elaiosome-attached seed dispersal. Large worker size may permit consumption of elaiosome and seed.
111 citations
TL;DR: It was found that although ant-nest soil was significantly enriched in nitrate-nitrogen, magnesium, iron, manganese, cadmium and percent organic matter compared to randomly collected soil, seedling growth was not significantly improved by ant-Nest soil.
Abstract: A major hypothesis concerning the benefits of myrmecochory, seed dispersal by ants, to plants is that ant nests are nutrient-enriched microsites that are beneficial to seedling growth. We experimentally test this hypothesis for a neotropical myrmecochore, Calathea ovandensis, asking two questions: 1) is soil of nests of a seed-dispersing ant chemically or structurally distinct from surrounding soils, and 2) do seedlings grow better in soil collected from ant nests than in randomly collected soil? We found that although ant-nest soil was significantly enriched in nitrate-nitrogen, magnesium, iron, manganese, cadmium and percent organic matter compared to randomly collected soil, seedling growth was not significantly improved by ant-nest soil.
67 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the average weight of ants collected at colonies of the aphid Cinara occidentalis was significantly less than the average weighted ants collected in the vicinity of the ant nest, suggesting that small ants are more likely to attend aphids and transport solid food than are large ants.
Abstract: The proportion of large Camponotus modoc workers returning to the nest with solid food was significantly less than that of smaller workers. The average weight of ants collected at colonies of the aphid Cinara occidentalis was significantly less than the average weight of ants collected in the vicinity of the ant nest. These data and additional observations suggest that small ants are more likely to attend aphids and transport solid food than are large ants. Some large ants may specialize in honeydew transport. Markand-recapture studies showed that workers of Camponotus modoc returned to the same trunk trails and aphid colonies from which they had previously been removed. When relocated to either the base of the tree or to the nest entrance, some workers demonstrated a capacity to recognize the original aphid colony from among as many as eight other colonies in the same tree. Some ants were observed on the same aphid colony for long periods.
13 citations
TL;DR: In this article, three species of epiphytic Dischidia have been investigated in terms of their relationship to ants on trees and the potential benefits to the tree and to the ants of this association are noted.
Abstract: Three species of epiphytic Dischidia have been investigated in terms of their relationship to ants on trees. Two species, D. parvifolia and D. astephana, are associated with ants and trees in montane areas. A clear association has been found between ants of the genus Crematogaster and the tree Leptospermum flavesens. This relationship is complex and probably both organisms benefit from the association. The ants live in tunnels in the wood of the major branches and the trunk, and the entire tree is occupied by one ant colony. Trees occupied by ants are maintained by the ants substantially clear of epiphytes other than the two species of Dischidia. The potential benefits to the tree and to the ants of this association are noted. The roots of D. astephana and D. parvifolia penetrate into the cavities of these ant nests and presumably gain nutrients from waste in the ant nests. Both Dischidia species are effectively scavenging upon the waste material from the ant-tree association. The leathery dome-shaped leaves of D. astephana are not vital to the development of the scavenging habit as D. parvifolia has lens-shaped leaves, but may offer some advantage to D. astephana by the uptake of nutrients from waste deposited by the ants under the dome-shaped leaves by interception of stem flow and by uptake of gaseous waste. Ants do not nest under these leaves. Seeds of these species of Dischidia are taken by ants into the central woody area of the ant nest where they germinate. Both Leptospermum and Dischidia can be visualized as showing adaptations to a nutient-deficient tropical montane environment. These adaptations are discussed as is the need for reassessment in this genus of the term 'ant-plant', and the need for wider recognition of the 'ant-tree' relationship between Crematogaster and Leptospermum.
12 citations
01 Jan 1986
TL;DR: In this article, the behavior of individual ants in the arena was recorded for 30 minutes, starting just after the introduction of the alien ant, and no problems were encountered in getting the ant colonies to mark the new papers as part of their territory.
Abstract: According to A. R. Jutsum ants that win fights seem to learn to attack specific parts of the body, especially the petiole. The threat response of the ants was more frequent when they were residents. There are few reports of aggression in relation to territory for leaf-cutting ants. In fact, very little has been learned about the basic behavioral mechanisms used by leaf-cutting ants to establish and maintain foraging territories. The territory in different Atta species is defended physically as in Pogonomyrmex. The ants selected were chosen randomly and picked up with clean forceps from among the workers walking near the nest. The behavior of individual ants in the arena was recorded for 30 minutes, starting just after the introduction of the alien ant. Except for an initial period of alarm, no problems were encountered in getting the ant colonies to mark the new papers as part of their territory.
11 citations