Harvester ants have major consequences for species composition and community structure in annual grasslands, and can shape seed traits and seed production strategies. I will first summarize our research into Messor barbarus harvesting activity in semiarid annual grasslands of Central Spain, where we have analysed the space-time distribution of seed predation, seed selectivity, effects of predation on seed banks and vegetation, diszoocory and regeneration niche and seed predation on feces. Secondly, Iwill present the results of on-going research into environmental correlates of post-dispersal seed removal by invertebrates at the global level.
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