The influence of harvester and Messor capensis nest-mounds on the productivity and distribution of some plant species in the southern Karoo, South Africa

Abstract

Nest-mounds of the harvester ant Messor capensis occur on and around nutrient-rich patches, along minor drainage lines in nutrient-rich soils, and on the plains, generally in nutrient-poor soils. Nest-site selection is related to the presence of suitable deep soils, the presence of stones and the distance from the nearest neighbouring nest. Two plant species, Galenia fruticosa and Pteronia pallens, were significantly associated with Messor capensis nest-mounds, both in numbers of mounds occupied and in numbers of individuals. A third species, Drosanthemum montaguense, was also more common in numbers of individuals, while a fourth species, Rhinephyllum macradenium was negatively associated with these mounds. The analysis of species guilds by soil type shows that significantly more species of nutrient-rich soils are present on M. capensis nest-mounds. Also, significantly more taller, woody species occurred on nest-mounds than in inter-mound spaces. Two species, Pteronia pallens and Osteospermum sinuatum, growing on ant nest-mounds had significantly longer inter-nodes than the same species growing off mounds. However, two other species, Pteronia cf. empetrifolia and Galenia fruticosa showed no difference in inter-node lengths between plants growing on and off mounds. Six of the nine species of plants sampled on ant nest-mounds had significantly higher seed production than plants of the same species growing in inter-mound spaces. The other three species showed a tendency towards more seeds per plant on ant nest-mounds. The proportions of live and dead plants on mounds differed between species. Only Ruschia spinosa showed a significant difference between the numbers of dead plants in the population on and off mounds, with more dead plants occurring on mounds. Significantly more seeds set on individuals of Pteronia pallens growing on ant nest-mounds than those growing off nest-mounds, but no such difference occurred in P. cf. empetrifolia. There was no significant difference in the proportion of seeds parasitized by the tephritid fly Desmella anceps for individuals of P. pallens and P. cf. empetrifolia growing on and off mounds.