The secret world of Ants – plant dispersal by ant

Can plant control the fate of their own seeds?

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Can ant be convinced to work as an efficient seed dispersers?

In this project we are studying the role of complex interactions among plants and the animals that disperse their seeds. While many dispersing animals are considered herbivores (i.e. they are feeding on the seeds they collect), some seed characteristics indicate intentional attraction to the animals. To test the potential role of positive vs. negative interactions in such systems, we focus on one of the rare species of Israel, Sternbergia clusiana whose seeds have a specific adaptation for ant dispersal.