Dispersal ol bullel grass (Cenchms ciharis L.) by ants in Shark Bay, Western Australia

摘要

Despite its continued usefulness to the pastoral industry, buffel grass (Cenchms ciliaris L.) is now recognised as one of the greatest environmental threats to the rangelands of Australia. The aim of this project was to understand the mechanisms of buffel grass seed dispersal in the field. Exclusion cages were placed in buffel grass infested areas with 150 seeds in each. After five days seeds were collected and counted to determine the amount removed. Ants were actively involved in buffel grass seedremoval and many seeds were found on and in ant middens and in nests. At least seven seed collecting genera of ants were captured within buffel grass infestations. Buffel grass fascicles collected from ant nests and middens were empty or contained a highproportion of rotten or non-germinating seed.