I am currently working on a research paper about seed-dispersal mutualisms (specifically of ants and certain plant species) as a possible means of rainforest reforestation.
Dear Pamela, invasive ants usually displace native seed disperser ants and disrupt plant-ant mutualism. In some places this effect can be dramatic, declining plant recruitment to low levels. A nice study is that of Christian CE. 2001. Consequences of a biological invasion revel the importance of mutualism for plant communities. Nature 413: 635-639. This study was done in South Africa where the Fynbos have hundreds of plant species that are only dispersed by ants. If you track the papers that have cited this one you can find much more. All the best! Alexander
Thank you, Alexander! The article you cited was very useful to my research.
A non-ant invasive species can negatively affect seed dispersal by ants. See: Oecologia 2016 May;181(1):149-59. doi: 10.1007/s00442-015-3530-0.
Andrew :-)
We touch on this question in the following recent paper https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314485008_Birds_as_key_vectors_for_the_dispersal_of_some_alien_species_Further_thoughts
Article Birds as key vectors for the dispersal of some alien species...
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