@article{TuerkeAndreasGossneretal.2012,
  author    = {T{\"u}rke, Manfred and Andreas, Kerstin and Gossner, Martin M. and Kowalski, Esther and Lange, Markus and Boch, Steffen and Socher, Stephanie A. and M{\"u}ller, J{\"o}rg and Prati, Daniel and Fischer, Markus and Meyh{\"o}fer, Rainer and Weisser, Wolfgang W.},
  title     = {Are gastropods, rather than ants, important dispersers of seeds of myrmecochorous forest herbs?},
  series = {The American naturalist : a bi-monthly journal devoted to the advancement and correlation of the biological sciences},
  volume    = {179},
  journal   = {The American naturalist : a bi-monthly journal devoted to the advancement and correlation of the biological sciences},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {Univ. of Chicago Press},
  address   = {Chicago},
  issn      = {0003-0147},
  doi       = {10.1086/663195},
  pages     = {124 -- 131},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Seed dispersal by ants (myrmecochory) is widespread, and seed adaptations to myrmecochory are common, especially in the form of fatty appendices (elaiosomes). In a recent study, slugs were identified as seed dispersers of myrmecochores in a central European beech forest. Here we used 105 beech forest sites to test whether myrmecochore presence and abundance is related to ant or gastropod abundance and whether experimentally exposed seeds are removed by gastropods. Myrmecochorous plant cover was positively related to gastropod abundance but was negatively related to ant abundance. Gastropods were responsible for most seed removal and elaiosome damage, whereas insects (and rodents) played minor roles. These gastropod effects on seeds were independent of region or forest management. We suggest that terrestrial gastropods can generally act as seed dispersers of myrmecochorous plants and even substitute myrmecochory, especially where ants are absent or uncommon.},
  language  = {en}
}