Influence of seed size on feeding preferences and diet composition of three sympatric harvester ants in the central Monte Desert, Argentina

Abstract

Selective seed consumption by harvester ants may affect seed abundance and composition and, ultimately, plant communities. We evaluated the influence of seed size on preferences and diet of Pogonomyrmex mendozanus, P. rastratus, and P. inermis in the central Monte Desert, Argentina. In choice experiments with Pappophorum spp. seeds of different sizes, P. mendozanus and P. rastratus preferred large seeds, maximizing energy reward. P. inermis showed a less-marked preference for large seeds, which was probably due to morphological constraints imposed by its small body size. Under natural conditions, none of the three species selected larger Pappophorum spp. seeds probably because of high travel and handling costs. Seeds of intermediate size predominated in the diet of the three species but a slight size match was detected as P. mendozanus carried larger seeds than P. rastratus and this than P. inermis, matching body-size differences. Thus, ants probably maximize energy reward but face morphological restrictions and higher costs when carrying and holding large seeds. While seeds of intermediate size are the most vulnerable ones to ant predation, small seeds are favored, as they are abundant in the soil seed bank and lowly predated.