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Leaf-cutting ants alter seedling assemblages across second-growth stands of Brazilian Atlantic forest

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2012

Paulo S. D. Silva ,
Inara R. Leal ,
Rainer Wirth ,
Felipe P. L. Melo  and
Marcelo Tabarelli
Paulo S. D. Silva
Affiliation:
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, s/n, Cidade Universitária, CEP 50670-901, Recife, PE, Brazil
Inara R. Leal
Affiliation:
Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, s/n, Cidade Universitária, CEP 50670-901, Recife, PE, Brazil
Rainer Wirth
Affiliation:
University of Kaiserslautern, Department of Plant Ecology and Systematics, Postfach 3049, 67653, Kaiserslautern, Germany
Felipe P. L. Melo
Affiliation:
Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, s/n, Cidade Universitária, CEP 50670-901, Recife, PE, Brazil
Marcelo Tabarelli*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, s/n, Cidade Universitária, CEP 50670-901, Recife, PE, Brazil
*
2Corresponding author. Email: mtrelli@ufpe.br
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Abstract:

Secondary forests promote an increased abundance of leaf-cutting ants (LCA) but the consequences on forest dynamics have been poorly addressed. Here we examine seedling assemblage attributes, seed germination and seedling survival across foraging zones of Atta cephalotes colonies inhabiting 15 second-growth patches (25–47 y old) of Atlantic forest. Seeds and seedlings were monitored within foraging zones and control sites over 1 y, including spots around ant nests. Overall, 1862 seedlings from 108 plant species were recorded. Seedling density decreased by 53% in foraging-zone plots (3.31 ± 0.23 seedlings m−2) when compared with control plots (7.02 ± 0.44 seedlings m−2) and a similar decrease was observed for species richness. Ant-induced alterations in the seedling assemblage were further indicated by segregation between foraging-zone and control plots (NMDS), habitat effects on species similarity (ANOSIM), and indicator tree species associated with control plots. While seed germination and seedling survivorship were uncorrelated to either nest distance or age of second-growth stands (with the exception of Tapirira guianensis), defoliation by LCAs was a significant cause of seedling mortality. Our results suggest that LCAs interfere with successional trajectories of Atlantic forest as foraging zones filter seedling establishment, supporting less-dense, impoverished and convergent seedling assemblages.

Keywords

Attaecological filterecosystem engineeringherbivoryforest regenerationplant recruitmentseed germination
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 28 , Issue 4 , July 2012 , pp. 361 - 368
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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