Cite this dataset as
Devenish, A.J.M. (2019). Impacts of Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) on seed dispersal services in Jonkershoek, Cape Floristic Region South Africa. NERC Environmental Information Data Centre. (Dataset). https://doi.org/10.5285/ecd04881-fd86-45e2-99e1-f0ec61324329
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This dataset is available under the terms of the Open Government Licence 
Impacts of Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) on seed dispersal services in Jonkershoek, Cape Floristic Region South Africa
This dataset describes the seed dispersal process of both invaded (presence of Linepithema humile) and non-invaded (absence of L. humile) ant communities. Data were collected from Jonkershoek Nature Reserve (33°55'51"S, 18°51'16"E) in South Africa, during the summer months of 2014 (November-December), 2015 (January-February), and 2017 (January-February).
- Experiment 1: Ant community structure of both invaded and non-invaded ant communities was determined using a series of pitfall and baiting traps.
- Experiment 2: Ant communities were presented with seeds (from twelve plant species) via a cafeteria setup and the rate of removal was measured over three hours.
- Experiment 3: Seeds were presented to nests of both the invasive L. humile and six native ant species, after 24 hours nests were cast with dental plaster and excavated. The seeds were retrieved, and their burial depths were recorded.
Data were collected from all three experiments to test hypothesis about the dispersal ability of the dominant seed dispersing ant species in both invaded and non-invaded ant communities.
Funding was received from a NERC-Case studentship (NE/K007076/1) and Varley-Gradwell Travelling Fellowship.
- Experiment 1: Ant community structure of both invaded and non-invaded ant communities was determined using a series of pitfall and baiting traps.
- Experiment 2: Ant communities were presented with seeds (from twelve plant species) via a cafeteria setup and the rate of removal was measured over three hours.
- Experiment 3: Seeds were presented to nests of both the invasive L. humile and six native ant species, after 24 hours nests were cast with dental plaster and excavated. The seeds were retrieved, and their burial depths were recorded.
Data were collected from all three experiments to test hypothesis about the dispersal ability of the dominant seed dispersing ant species in both invaded and non-invaded ant communities.
Funding was received from a NERC-Case studentship (NE/K007076/1) and Varley-Gradwell Travelling Fellowship.
Publication date: 2019-10-11
View record as
Format
Comma-separated values (CSV)
Spatial information
- Study area
-
- Spatial representation type
- Tabular (text)
- Spatial reference system
- WGS 84
Temporal information
- Temporal extent
-
2014-11-01 to 2017-02-28
Provenance & quality
Data was collected on the impacts of Linepithema humile on both ant community structure and seed dispersal ability. All data was collected in a systematic manner using a series of three independent experiments. Details of the experimental methodologies can be found in the supporting documentation, and online through the Bristol thesis repository.
Supplemental information
Correspondence/contact details
Author
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5240-622X Other contacts
- Custodian
-
NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centreinfo@eidc.ac.uk
- Publisher
-
NERC Environmental Information Data Centreinfo@eidc.ac.uk
Additional metadata
- Topic categories
- biota
- Keywords
- Animal behaviour , Cape Floristic Region , Seed dispersal
- Funding
- Natural Environment Research Council Award: NE/K007076/1
- Last updated
- 14 March 2024 15:45