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Frequency-Dependent Seed Dispersal By Ants Of Two Deciduous Forest Herbs, Brent H. Smith, Catherine E. De Rivera, Cara Lin Bridgman, John J. Woid

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Two co—occurring deciduous forest myrmecochores, Asarum canadense and Jeffersonia diphylla, release their seeds at approximately the same time, and therefore potentially compete for ants as dispersers. Within a single woodlot, we placed seeds of both species inside a dense Jeffersonia population away from Asarum plants, inside a dense Asarum population away from Jeffersonia plants, and in a site where plants of neither species occurred. No preference was exhibited by ants where natural populations were absent. Preference at the other two sites was frequency dependent: ants preferred seeds of the introduced species. Species preferred by ants have higher seed and …