Arid
DOI10.1111/j.1442-9993.2010.02153.x
Influence of temporal fluctuations in seed abundance on the foraging behaviour of harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex spp.) in the central Monte desert, Argentina
Pol, Rodrigo G.1,2; Lopez de Casenave, Javier3; Pirk, Gabriela I.3
通讯作者Pol, Rodrigo G.
来源期刊AUSTRAL ECOLOGY
ISSN1442-9985
出版年2011
卷号36期号:3页码:320-328
英文摘要

The simultaneous study of the temporal dynamics of foraging behaviour, diet and seed abundance is essential to assess the way in which resources affect the behaviour and ecology of harvester ants. Here, we evaluate how fluctuations in grass seed abundance during three consecutive growing seasons influenced the foraging behaviour and diet of the harvester ants Pogonomyrmex rastratus, P. mendozanus and P. inermis in the central Monte desert, Argentina. Seed abundance of the most consumed grasses varied greatly through ant activity season, and ants altered their foraging behaviour in response to those changes. Foragers spent more time travelling and searching for food, and their foraging trips took longer during the low seed availability season. Foraging distance was very similar among species and, contrary to our expectations, did not vary between seasons. Foraging success of P. rastratus and P. inermis increased during the high availability season. This matched the seasonal pattern of foraging activity, suggesting that colonies may detect seed abundance and regulate their foraging effort with the rate of forager success. Although grass seeds were the main item in the diet of the three species, P. mendozanus, and to a lesser extent P. rastratus, turned more generalist when grass seeds were scarce. In contrast, P. inermis showed a very narrow diet breadth, only harvesting grass seeds in both seasons. Our results indicate the relevance of seed availability on foraging behaviour of harvester ants, which should be taken into account when predicting and evaluating the effect of ants on seed resources as well as numerical responses of harvester ant populations to the temporal and spatial variations in grass seed abundance.


英文关键词foraging behaviour harvester ant Monte desert Pogonomyrmex seed availability
类型Article
语种英语
国家Argentina
收录类别SCI-E
WOS记录号WOS:000289952500011
WOS关键词SHRUB-STEPPE ECOSYSTEM ; HYMENOPTERA-FORMICIDAE ; GENUS POGONOMYRMEX ; TOP-DOWN ; PATTERNS ; FOOD ; GRANIVORY ; RESOURCES ; AVAILABILITY ; BUMBLEBEES
WOS类目Ecology
WOS研究方向Environmental Sciences & Ecology
资源类型期刊论文
条目标识符http://119.78.100.177/qdio/handle/2XILL650/167294
作者单位1.Univ Nacl Cuyo, Desert Community Ecol Res Team Ecodes, IADIZA CONICET, RA-5500 Mendoza, Argentina;
2.Univ Nacl Cuyo, Inst Ciencias Basicas ICB, RA-5500 Mendoza, Argentina;
3.Univ Buenos Aires, Desert Community Ecol Res Team Ecodes, Dept Ecol Genet & Evoluc, FCEyN, Buenos Aires, DF, Argentina
推荐引用方式
GB/T 7714
Pol, Rodrigo G.,Lopez de Casenave, Javier,Pirk, Gabriela I.. Influence of temporal fluctuations in seed abundance on the foraging behaviour of harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex spp.) in the central Monte desert, Argentina[J],2011,36(3):320-328.
APA Pol, Rodrigo G.,Lopez de Casenave, Javier,&Pirk, Gabriela I..(2011).Influence of temporal fluctuations in seed abundance on the foraging behaviour of harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex spp.) in the central Monte desert, Argentina.AUSTRAL ECOLOGY,36(3),320-328.
MLA Pol, Rodrigo G.,et al."Influence of temporal fluctuations in seed abundance on the foraging behaviour of harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex spp.) in the central Monte desert, Argentina".AUSTRAL ECOLOGY 36.3(2011):320-328.
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