Ants interacting with fruits of Melocactus conoideus Buining & Brederoo (Cactaceae) in southwestern Bahia, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine which ant species interact with the fruits of Melocactus conoideus and if there is removal. The study was carried out at Parque Municipal Serra do Periperi, in the town of Vitoria da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil, an area where the species occur. Fruits from 30 individuals were marked and observed during day for identification of the ants behavior. Seven species from five ant subfamilies were observed interacting with the fruits and the genera mostly involved in interactions were Camponotus and Pheidole. Three removal events were observed, performed by Pheidole sp. 2. Although M. conoideus is not a myrmecochorous species, ants were registered as opportunistic dispersing agents, an activity which may have important consequences for the population dynamics of the species.

Keywords

• Endangered species
• Formicidae
• Opportunistic dispersal