Myrmecochory is an important mutualistic interaction, where ants provide seed dispersal services for many plant species. We examined the influence of soil disturbances associated with roadworks activity on ant–seed interactions in roadside environments in south-eastern Australia. In the study landscape, minor rural road reserves often provide critical habitat for endangered species and woodland ecosystems. We conducted seed-depot experiments to quantify the extent of ant–seed removal, and identified the contribution of different ant species to seed removal and elaiosome consumption (cheating) interactions, in disturbed and non-disturbed roadside zones. Twenty-six ant species were recorded interacting with seeds; however, only a few species were responsible for dispersing most seeds. We found soil disturbance and roadside width influenced observed ant–seed interactions, which was largely explained by individual species habitat and behavioural traits. Iridomyrmex purpureus removed a higher proportion of seeds in soil disturbed zones, while Rhytidoponera metallica carried out more seed removals in narrow roadsides. R. metallica and Melophorus bruneus typically carried out seed removals (only), while Monomorium and Pheidole spp. almost exclusively carried out cheating behaviours. These results highlight the complex nature of ant–plant interactions is association with novel soil disturbance regimes, where ants perform a critical seed dispersal service for myrmecochorous roadside vegetation.

中文翻译：

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骗子和搬家工人：土壤扰动对路边植被蚂蚁-种子相互作用的影响

Myrmecochory 是一种重要的互惠互作，蚂蚁为许多植物物种提供种子传播服务。我们研究了与道路工程活动相关的土壤扰动对澳大利亚东南部路边环境中蚂蚁-种子相互作用的影响。在研究景观中，小型农村道路保护区通常为濒危物种和林地生态系统提供重要的栖息地。我们进行了种子库实验以量化蚂蚁种子去除的程度，并确定了不同蚂蚁物种对种子去除和弹性体消耗（作弊）相互作用的贡献，在受干扰和不受干扰的路边区域。记录了 26 种与种子相互作用的蚂蚁；然而，只有少数物种负责传播大多数种子。我们发现土壤扰动和路边宽度影响观察到的蚂蚁-种子相互作用，这在很大程度上可以通过个体物种栖息地和行为特征来解释。Iridomyrmex purpureus 在土壤扰动区去除了更高比例的种子，而 Rhytidoponera metala 在狭窄的路边进行了更多的种子去除。R. metala 和 Melophorus bruneus 通常进行种子去除（仅），而 Monomorium 和 Pheidole spp。几乎完全进行了作弊行为。这些结果强调了蚂蚁与植物相互作用的复杂性与新的土壤扰动机制有关，在这种机制下，蚂蚁为 myrmecochorous 路边植被提供关键的种子传播服务。Iridomyrmex purpureus 在土壤扰动区去除了更高比例的种子，而 Rhytidoponera metala 在狭窄的路边进行了更多的种子去除。R. metala 和 Melophorus bruneus 通常进行种子去除（仅），而 Monomorium 和 Pheidole spp。几乎完全进行了作弊行为。这些结果强调了蚂蚁与植物相互作用的复杂性质与新的土壤扰动机制有关，在这种机制下，蚂蚁为 myrmecochorous 路边植被提供关键的种子传播服务。Iridomyrmex purpureus 在土壤扰动区去除了更高比例的种子，而 Rhytidoponera metala 在狭窄的路边进行了更多的种子去除。R. metala 和 Melophorus bruneus 通常进行种子去除（仅），而 Monomorium 和 Pheidole spp。几乎完全进行了作弊行为。这些结果强调了蚂蚁与植物相互作用的复杂性质与新的土壤扰动机制有关，在这种机制下，蚂蚁为 myrmecochorous 路边植被提供关键的种子传播服务。