Refuse attracts? Effect of refuse dumps of leaf-cutting ants on floral traits

Abstract

The nutrient-rich organic waste generated by ants may affect plant reproductive success directly by enhancing fruit production but also indirectly, by affecting floral traits related with pollinator attraction. Understanding how these soil-nutrient hot spots influence floral phenotype is relevant to plant–pollination interactions. We experimentally evaluated whether the addition of organic waste from refuse dumps of the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex lobicornis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Attini) alters floral traits associated with pollinator attraction in Eschscholzia californica (Ranunculales: Papaveraceae), an entomophilous herb. We analysed flower shape and size using geometric morphometric techniques in plants with and without the addition of refuse-dumps soil, under greenhouse conditions. We also measured the duration of flowering season, days with new flowers, flower production and floral display size. Plants growing in refuse-dumps soil showed higher flower shape diversity than those in control soil. Moreover, plants in refuse-dumps soil showed bigger flower and floral display size, longer flowering season, higher number of flowering days and flower production. As all these variables may potentially increase pollinator visits, plants in refuse-dumps soil might increase their fitness through enhanced attraction. Our work describes how organic waste from ant nests may enhance floral traits involved in floral attraction, illustrating a novel way of how ants may indirectly benefit plants.