Convergence between ant-mediated seed dispersal and newly discovered gall dispersal

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

1:54 PM – 2:06 PM PT

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Meeting Room 217/218/219

Presenting Author(s)

JT

John F. Tooker

Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pennsylvania

Co-Author(s)

RW

Robert Warren, II

The State University of New York College
Buffalo, New York
AG

Antoine P. Guiguet

Post-doc
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pennsylvania
CM

Chloe Mokadam

The State University of New York College
Buffalo, New York
AD

Andy Deans

Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pennsylvania

We present evidence that ants disperse the oak galls of some cynipid wasp species in a similar manner as seeds with elaiosomes. We conducted choice assays in field and lab settings with ant-dispersed seeds and wasp-induced galls found in ant nests to test whether seed-dispersing ants retrieve these galls as they do myrmecochorous seeds. We also conducted manipulative experiments in which we removed the putative ant-attracting appendages from seeds and galls. We analyzed the histology of gall tissues and ant-attracting gall appendages, and we compared chemical compositions of ant-attracting appendages on seeds and galls. Our results show that seed-dispersing ants retrieved galls similarly to seeds, and that the appendages on seeds and galls had similar fatty-acid compositions and histological structures. Our results require reconsideration of established ant-plant research as ant-mediated seed and gall dispersal appear strongly convergent.