Role of mucilage in seed removal of a sand desert shrub in a semiarid ecosystem

摘要

Artemisia sphaerocephala Kraschen. (Asteraceae) is one of the most important pioneer plants of the moving and semi-stable sand dunes in the deserts and steppes of north China. Seeds of this species produce large quantities of mucilage (up to 35% of seed dry mass; Yang et al 2010). Our previous reports have shown that the seed mucilage of A. sphaerocephala is ecologically multifunctional (Yang et al 2010, 2011, 2012a, 2012b). However, the role of mucilage in ant-mediated seed movement remains to be elucidated. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the effects of seed mucilage on post-dispersal seed removal by ants.