Interaction between the non-myrmecochorous herb Galium aparine and the ant Formica polyctena

Non-myrmecochorous plant species are able to colonize Formica polyctena mounds. Galium aparine has been chosen as a model to study this kind of ant-plant association. In order to understand benefits to ants and plants, we have studied removal rates of fruits by ant workers, and compared soil seed material, seedling pattern and development of plants of the nest versus forest. Ant workers remove fruits at very low rates; removal time for half of the sample of 10 seeds was on average 5 h. Removed fruits were usually lost within 20-30 cm distance of the ant route. The soil samples from the nests contained a higher number of fruits, than those from randomly chosen sites in the forest. Seeds start to germinate in late August; on the F. polyctena mounds significantly earlier than at surrounding places. The seedling density was higher within experimental quadrats located on mound sites especially in late September-early October. The highest density of seedlings was on the slope of the mound. Plants from mounds are significantly longer, have a higher number of nodes during all stages of development and a higher mortality rate than that at surrounding places. The interactions between G. aparine and F. polyctena ants are asymmetrical. In spite of higher mortality rate of seedlings on mounds, ants provide some benefits to the plant. Firstly, workers are additional dispersal agents for G. aparine fruits. Furthermore, the soil peculiarities of ant mounds are beneficial for seed germination and seedling growth. G. aparine does not provide ants with energetically valuable food like plants with elaiosome-bearing seeds. Moreover, the high density of seedlings and plants on the mounds shades the nest.