Quantitative analysis of the effects of the exotic Argentine ant on seed-dispersal mutualisms

    Authors

    M. A. Rodriguez-Cabal; K. L. Stuble; M. A. Nunez;N. J. Sanders

    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Biol. Lett.

    Keywords

    Argentine ants; exotic invasive species; seed-dispersal mutualisms; meta-analysis; REPLACE NATIVE ANTS; LINEPITHEMA-HUMILE; CONSEQUENCES; PLANT; INVASION; MYRMECOCHORY; METAANALYSIS; PATTERNS; ECOLOGY; Biology; Ecology; Evolutionary Biology

    Abstract

    Although it is increasingly clear that exotic invasive species affect seed-dispersal mutualisms, a synthetic examination of the effect of exotic invasive species on seed-dispersal mutualisms is lacking. Here, we review the impacts of the invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) on seed dispersal. We found that sites with L. humile had 92 per cent fewer native ant seed dispersers than did sites where L. humile was absent. In addition, L. humile did not replace native seed dispersers, as rates of seed removal and seedling establishment were all lower in the presence of L. humile than in its absence. We conclude that potential shifts in plant diversity and concomitant changes in ecosystem function may be a consequence of Argentine ant invasions, as well as invasions by other ant species. Because very few studies have examined the effects of non-ant invasive species on seed-dispersal mutualisms, the prevalence of disruption of seed-dispersal mutualisms by invasive species is unclear.

    Journal Title

    Biology Letters

    Volume

    5

    Issue/Number

    4

    Publication Date

    1-1-2009

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    499

    Last Page

    502

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000267881700018

    ISSN

    1744-9561

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