SciELO - Scientific Electronic Library Online

 
vol.34 issue1Population size and structure of the large-nosed wood turtle (Rhinoclemmys nasuta, Testudines: Geoemydidae) in an insular environment of the Colombian Pacific regionFlowering phenology of ornithophilous species from the lower stratum in two High-Andean habitats in the Parque Natural Municipal Rancheria (Paipa-Boyacá-Colombia) author indexsubject indexarticles search
Home Pagealphabetic serial listing  

Services on Demand

Journal

Article

Indicators

Related links

  • On index processCited by Google
  • Have no similar articlesSimilars in SciELO
  • On index processSimilars in Google

Share


Caldasia

Print version ISSN 0366-5232On-line version ISSN 2357-3759

Abstract

HURTADO, ALEJANDRA; ESCOBAR, SELENE; TORRES, ALBA MARINA  and  ARMBRECHT, INGE. Exploring the role of the generalist ant Solenopsis geminata (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) on seed germination of Senna spectabilis (Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae). Caldasia [online]. 2012, vol.34, n.1, pp.127-137. ISSN 0366-5232.

The colonization of pastures by plant species other than grasses is limited by the scarcity of primary seed dispersers and the reduced availability of suitable sites for seed germination. In pastures, generalist ants could promote secondary dispersal of trees of importance for ecological restoration by manipulating and transporting seeds to their nests. First, we evaluated in the laboratory the importance of mechanical scarification for seed germination of three tree species with potential for ecological restoration: Guazuma ulmifolia, Pithecellobium dulce and Senna spectabilis. Scarification enhanced germination of seeds of G. ulmifolia (from 5 to 37%) and S. spectabilis (from 0 to 98.5%) while decreased the germination of P. dulce (from 94 to 87%). We concluded that mechanical scarification is necessary for germination of S. spectabilis and G. ulmifolia. Then, to explore the effect of ants on seed germination, we offered non-scarified seeds of S. spectabilis to colonies of fire ant Solenopsis geminata in the laboratory. We did not observe germination with this treatment, suggesting that this ant species does not scarify mechanically or chemically the seeds, but there was no evidence of physical damage to the seeds. Finally, germination of scarified seeds of S. spectabilis in soil from S. geminata nests was compared with germination of scarified seeds in soil adjacent to the nests, both under greenhouse and field conditions. In greenhouse, germination was higher in nest soil than in adjacent soil (98% vs. 86%, respectively) whereas the opposite occurred in field (24% vs. 43%, respectively). There was no evidence that the changes in soil induced by nests of S.geminata favor the germination of S. spectabilis. We  recommend assessing the contribution of soil from ant nests in post-germination stages of seedlings, their establishment, survival and growth.

Keywords : Germination; ant nests; Guazuma ulmifolia; Pithecellobium dulce; Senna spectabilis.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )

 

Creative Commons License All the contents of this journal, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License