Geographic variation in diaspore traits and home-site advantage in ant-mediated dispersal

Abstract

Ant-mediated seed dispersal (myrmecochory) is a widespread mutualism in which ants selectively transport diaspores based on their morphological and chemical traits. Although diaspore traits are proposed to reflect adaptation to local ant communities, empirical evidence linking geographic variation in these traits to dispersal outcomes remains limited. Here, we investigated population differentiation in diaspore traits and their consequences for ant-mediated dispersal in the myrmecochorous plant Coreanomecon hylomeconoides, an endemic species of the Korean Peninsula. We assessed geographic variation in diaspore mass-related traits and elaiosome fatty acid composition across seven natural populations. In addition, we conducted reciprocal cafeteria experiments across the habitats of these populations, in which diaspores from different source populations were simultaneously offered to ants at both home and away sites. Time to diaspore removal by ants was used as a proxy for a fitness component and was analysed using mixed-effects Cox proportional hazards models. Diaspore traits varied significantly among populations, including traits that may influence ant-carrying behaviour. Ant-mediated diaspore removal depended on source population at four of the seven sites, with marginal evidence at one additional site. Among these five sites, diaspores from the local population were removed more rapidly than those from non-local populations at three sites, consistent with a home-site advantage, whereas such an advantage was absent at the other two sites. Mass-related diaspore traits influenced ant removal responses, but the strength and direction of these effects differed among sites. Chemical traits related to fatty acid composition affected ant behaviour at two of the five sites included in trait-based analyses. Synthesis. Our results demonstrate that ant-mediated selection on diaspore traits varies geographically, possibly resulting in uneven expression of home-site advantage across populations. This spatial heterogeneity is consistent with predictions from the geographic mosaic theory of coevolution and highlights the importance of evolutionary ecological context in shaping mutualistic interactions across a species' range.,(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic) (sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(myrmecochory)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(diaspore)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic) (sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic). 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(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) Cox (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(fitness component)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic). 7(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic). 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(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic) (sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic).,(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic) (sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) 5(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic) 2(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic). (sic)(sic). (sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic) (sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic) (sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic). (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic) (sic)(sic) (sic)(sic) (sic)(sic) (sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).,