Insect-mediated pollination and harvester ant seed predation in slickspot peppergrass: 2008 report

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Based on two years of study we conclude that the Owyhee harvester ant is a potential threat to the long-term viability of Lepidium papilliferum. Our conclusion is based on the large overlap in habitat between Pogonomyrmex salinus and L. papilliferum, and because of the ant’s propensity for consuming L. papilliferum fruit and seed. However, our information is incomplete. There is clearly a need to determine whether, or at what rate, harvester ants are expanding their numbers within L. papilliferum habitat, and to monitor the periphery of sagebrush-dominated L. papilliferum populations to determine whether ants have colonized any nearby grassy areas (as in the case of “Red Tie”). It is also important to quantify the intensity of seed predation as a function of an ant colony’s distance from L. papilliferum so that more precise estimates of seed loss can be made. By applying this relationship to spatially explicit maps of ant colonies located within L. papilliferum populations, it should be possible to provide resource managers with a better assessment of each population’s risk of seed loss to harvester ants.

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Reference Code: U08ROB01IDUS (Rev. 2/16/2009)

Full Citation: Robertson, I. C. and J. P. White. 2008. (Rev. 2/16/2009) Insect-mediated pollination and harvester ant seed predation in slickspot peppergrass: 2008 report. MOA No. NGBID-07-D-0001Task Order No. 001-FY-08. Report prepared for State of Idaho, Military Division, Idaho Army National Guard. 28 pp.

Location: ELECTRONIC FILE BOTANY: PLANT SPECIES: {Lepidium papilliferum}