Colorado Island (colorado + island)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Kinds of Colorado Island

  • barro colorado island


  • Selected Abstracts


    Army ants in four forests: geographic variation in raid rates and species composition

    JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2007
    SEAN O'DONNELL
    Summary 1The New World army ants are top predators in the litter of tropical forest, but no comprehensive studies exist on variation in assemblage-wide activity and species composition. We used standardized protocols to estimate foraging raid rates and species composition of army ant communities in four Neotropical forests. The study sites spanned approximately 10° latitude, with two sites each in Central and South America. 2We recorded a total of 22 species of army ants. The four sites varied in observed and estimated species richness. Species overlap was highest between the Central American sites, and lowest between the South American sites. 3Raid activity varied significantly among sites. Raid activity per kilometre of trail walks was over four times higher at the most active site (Sta. Maria, Venezuela) than at the least active site (Barro Colorado Island, Panama). Furthermore, each site showed a different diel pattern of activity. For example, raid activity was higher during daylight hours in Costa Rica, and higher at night in Venezuela. Raid activity relationships with ambient temperature also varied significantly among sites. 4The overall rate of army ant raids passing through 1 m2 plots was 0·73 raids per day, but varied among sites, from 0 raids per day (Panama) to 1·2 raids per day (Venezuela). 5Primarily subterranean species were significantly more abundant in Venezuela, and above-ground foragers that form large swarm fronts were least abundant in Panama. The site heterogeneity in species abundance and diel activity patterns has implications for army ant symbionts, including ant-following birds, and for the animals hunted by these top predators. [source]


    The impact of lianas on 10 years of tree growth and mortality on Barro Colorado Island, Panama

    JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 4 2010
    Laura L. Ingwell
    Summary 1. Lianas compete intensely with trees, but few studies have examined long-term effects of liana infestation on tree growth and mortality. We quantified the effects of lianas in tree crowns (n = 2907) and rooted within 2 m of trees (n = 1086) on growth and mortality of 30 tree species from 1995 to 2005 on Barro Colorado Island (BCI), Panama, documented liana infestation in tree crowns in 1996 and 2007 to determine the dynamics of liana infestation, and quantified liana infestation in the crowns of 3231 additional canopy trees (d.b.h. ,20 cm) in 2007 to compare with the same metric determined by previous studies in 1967 and 1980. 2. Severe liana infestation increased tree mortality: 21% of liana-free trees in 1996 had died by 2007, whereas 42% of trees with more than 75% of the crown infested by lianas in 1996 had died by 2007. 3. Liana infestation of tree crowns significantly reduced tree growth, particularly on sun-exposed trees. The proximity of rooted lianas significantly reduced the growth of shaded trees. 4. Liana infestation was dynamic: 10.9% of trees with severe liana infestation in their crowns in 1996 had shed all of their lianas by 2007 and 5.3% of trees with no lianas in their crown in 1996 had severe liana infestation in 2007. 5. Liana infestation was common: lianas were present in 53% of trees of the 30 focal species. Including lianas rooted within 2 m of the tree increased this percentage to 78%. Using both above- and below-ground measures may provide a better estimate of liana competition than either measure alone. 6. Liana infestation is increasing on BCI. Lianas were present in the crowns of 73.6% of canopy trees (d.b.h. ,20 cm). Liana canopy infestation was 57% higher than in 1980 and 65% higher than in 1967, which is consistent with reported increases in liana abundance, biomass, and leaf and flower production. 7.,Synthesis. We used one of the largest studies ever conducted on lianas to confirm the negative effects of lianas on tree growth and survival over 10 years. Liana infestation of trees was widespread, dynamic and increasing on BCI. [source]


    Interspecific variation in primary seed dispersal in a tropical forest

    JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 4 2008
    Helene C. Muller-Landau
    Summary 1We investigated the relationships of seed size, dispersal mode and other species characteristics to interspecific variation in mean primary seed dispersal distances, mean annual seed production per unit basal area, and clumping of seed deposition among 41 tropical tree species on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. 2A hierarchical Bayesian model incorporating interannual variation in seed production was used to estimate seed dispersal, seed production, and clumping of seed rain for each species from 19 years of data for 188 seed traps on a 50-ha plot in which all adult trees were censused every 5 years. 3Seed dispersal was modelled as a two-dimensional Student's T distribution with the degrees of freedom parameter fixed at 3, interannual variation in seed production per basal area was modelled as a lognormal, and the clumping of seed rain around its expected value was modelled as a negative binomial distribution. 4There was wide variation in seed dispersal distances among species sharing the same mode of seed dispersal. Seed dispersal mode did not explain significant variation in seed dispersal distances, but did explain significant variation in clumping: animal-dispersed species showed higher clumping of seed deposition. 5Among nine wind-dispersed species, the combination of diaspore terminal velocity, tree height and wind speed in the season of peak dispersal explained 40% of variation in dispersal distances. Among 31 animal-dispersed species, 20% of interspecific variation in dispersal distances was explained by seed mass (a negative effect) and tree height (a positive effect). 6Among all species, seed mass, tree height and dispersal syndrome explained 28% of the variation in mean dispersal distance and seed mass alone explained 45% of the variation in estimated seed production per basal area. 7Synthesis. There is wide variation in patterns of primary seed rain among tropical tree species. Substantial proportions of interspecific variation in seed production, seed dispersal distances, and clumping of seed deposition are explained by relatively easily measured plant traits, especially dispersal mode, seed mass, and tree height. This provides hope for trait-based generalization and modelling of seed dispersal in tropical forests. [source]


    Dispersal and population structure of a New World predator, the army ant Eciton burchellii

    JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2008
    S. M. BERGHOFF
    Abstract The army ant Eciton burchellii is probably the most important arthropod predator in the Neotropics, and many animal species depend upon it. Sex-biased dispersal with winged males and permanently wingless queens may render this species especially sensitive to habitat fragmentation and natural barriers, which might have severe impacts on population structure and lead to population decline. Using nuclear microsatellite markers and mitochondrial sequences, we investigated genetic differentiation in a fragmented population in the Panama Canal area. While nuclear markers showed little differentiation between subpopulations (FST = 0.017), mitochondrial differentiation was maximal in some cases (,ST = 1). This suggests that, while females are not capable of crossing barriers such as large rivers, flying males are able to promote nuclear gene flow between the studied forest patches. Consistent with this interpretation, we did not find any evidence for inbreeding or genetic deterioration on Barro Colorado Island over the last 90 years since its formation. [source]


    Molecular diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and patterns of host association over time and space in a tropical forest

    MOLECULAR ECOLOGY, Issue 12 2002
    R. Husband
    Abstract We have used molecular techniques to investigate the diversity and distribution of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi colonizing tree seedling roots in the tropical forest on Barro Colorado Island (BCI), Republic of Panama. In the first year, we sampled newly emergent seedlings of the understory treelet Faramea occidentalis and the canopy emergent Tetragastris panamensis, from mixed seedling carpets at each of two sites. The following year we sampled surviving seedlings from these cohorts. The roots of 48 plants were analysed using AM fungal-specific primers to amplify and clone partial small subunit (SSU) ribosomal RNA gene sequences. Over 1300 clones were screened for random fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) variation and 7% of these were sequenced. Compared with AM fungal communities sampled from temperate habitats using the same method, the overall diversity was high, with a total of 30 AM fungal types identified. Seventeen of these types have not been recorded previously, with the remainder being similar to types reported from temperate habitats. The tropical mycorrhizal population showed significant spatial heterogeneity and nonrandom associations with the different hosts. Moreover there was a strong shift in the mycorrhizal communities over time. AM fungal types that were dominant in the newly germinated seedlings were almost entirely replaced by previously rare types in the surviving seedlings the following year. The high diversity and huge variation detected across time points, sites and hosts, implies that the AM fungal types are ecologically distinct and thus may have the potential to influence recruitment and host composition in tropical forests. [source]


    Eight microsatellite markers for the neotropical tree Luehea seemannii (Tiliaceae)

    MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES, Issue 1 2004
    F. A. Jones
    Abstract We isolated eight polymorphic microsatellites from the neotropical tree Luehea seemannii for gene flow and genetic structure studies. We used a streptavidin subtractive enrichment technique to develop a library of CA/GT repeats. Eight loci were screened for diversity from 96 individuals from Barro Colorado Island (BCI) and neighbouring Gigante peninsula in Panama. Luehea seemannii shows moderate levels of genetic diversity within these two populations. Allelic richness ranged from four to nine alleles and averaged 6.44 alleles per locus. Average expected heterozygosity was 0.65 on BCI and 0.60 on Gigante. Results are compared to microsatellite data from another wind-dispersed gap colonizing species common in Panama. [source]


    Game Vertebrate Densities in Hunted and Nonhunted Forest Sites in Manu National Park, Peru

    BIOTROPICA, Issue 2 2010
    Whaldener Endo
    ABSTRACT Manu National Park of southern Peru is one of the most renowned protected areas in the world, yet large-bodied vertebrate surveys conducted to date have been restricted to Cocha Cashu Biological Station, a research station covering <0.06 percent of the 1.7 Mha park. Manu Park is occupied by >460 settled Matsigenka Amerindians, 300,400 isolated Matsigenka, and several, little-known groups of isolated hunter,gatherers, yet the impact of these native Amazonians on game vertebrate populations within the park remains poorly understood. On the basis of 1495 km of standardized line-transect censuses, we present density and biomass estimates for 23 mammal, bird, and reptile species for seven lowland and upland forest sites in Manu Park, including Cocha Cashu. We compare these estimates between hunted and nonhunted sites within Manu Park, and with other Neotropical forest sites. Manu Park safeguards some of the most species-rich and highest biomass assemblages of arboreal and terrestrial mammals ever recorded in Neotropical forests, most likely because of its direct Andean influence and high levels of soil fertility. Relative to Barro Colorado Island, seed predators and arboreal folivores in Manu are rare, and generalist frugivores specializing on mature fruit pulp are abundant. The impact of such a qualitative shift in the vertebrate community on the dynamics of plant regeneration, and therefore, on our understanding of tropical plant ecology, must be profound. Despite a number of external threats, Manu Park continues to serve as a baseline against which other Neotropical forests can be gauged. Abstract in Spanish is available at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/btp. [source]


    New Perspectives in Comparative Ecology of Neotropical Rain Forests: Reflections on the Past, Present, and Future

    BIOTROPICA, Issue 1 2004
    Jennifer S. Powers
    ABSTRACT In an effort to understand variations in ecological patterns among lowland tropical rain forests, Alwyn Gentry and colleagues synthesized data sets from four of the premier Neotropical field stations,La Selva (Costa Rica), Barro Colorado Island (Panama), Cocha Cashu (Peru), and the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragmentation Project (Brazil). To promote the kind of geographically comparative tropical ecology advocated in the 1990 Gentry book, the Organization for Tropical Studies and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute organized a course in 2001 that visited each of these field stations. Papers from some of the studies resulting from this course are highlighted in this special section. These studies are notable for the consistent methods applied across forests, and they underscore the acute need and bright future for comparative tropical ecology. Key site characteristics for each of the field stations are summarized here. RESUMEN En un esfuerzo de entender las variaciones en patrones ecológicos entre selvas tropicales de bajura, Alwyn Gentry y colegas sintetizaron bases de datos en las cuatro principales estaciones biológicos del Neotrópico: La Selva (Costa Rica), Barro Colorado Island (Panamá), Cocha Cashu (Perú), y el Proyecto de Dinámica Biológica de Fragmentación de Bosque (Brasil). Con el fin de promover el estudio ecologico tropical comparativa a nivel geográfico recomendada por Gentry en 1990 la Organización para Estudios Tropicales y el Smithsonian Tropical Research Institution organizaron un curso en el año 2001, el cual visitó cada una de éstas estaciones. Los artículos científicos de algunos de los estudios producto de este curso se presentan en esta sección especial. Estos estudios son notables debido a la consistencia en los metodología aplicada a través de los cuatro sitios. Asimismo, estos estudios denotan la necesidad y el potencial de Uevar a cabo mas investigación a nivel de ecología tropical comparativa. Caracteristicas importantes para cada una de las estaciones de campo son resumidos en esta sección. [source]


    Structure and Biomass of Four Lowland Neotropical Forests

    BIOTROPICA, Issue 1 2004
    Saara J. DeWalt
    ABSTRACT We contrasted the structure and biomass of four lowland Neotropical forests (La Selva, Costa Rica; Barro Colorado Island, Panama; Cocha Cashu, Peru; and KM41, Brazil) to determine if commonalities exist within and among forests differing in latitude, rainfall, seasonality, and soil fertility. We examined the effect of soil fertility specifically by measuring the density and basal area of trees, lianas, and palms on two soil types differing in fertility at each site. We used allometric relationships to estimate the contribution of the various life-forms to total aboveground biomass (AGB) and compared two relationships for trees 30 cm diameter or greater. Estimated liana density and AGB were similar among sites, but the density and AGB of trees and palms, estimated using diameter alone, differed significantly. Basal area and AGB of trees 10 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) or greater differed among forests and averaged 30.2 m2/ha and 250 Mg/ha, respectively. Cocha Cashu and KM41 had higher tree basal area and AGB than La Selva or Barro Colorado Island. Across forests, lianas and small trees (1,10 cm DBH) each contributed between 4 and 5 percent of the total AGB and small palms contributed ca 1 percent. Many forest inventories ignore lianas, as well as trees and palms less than 10 cm DBH, and therefore underestimate AGB by ca 10 percent. Soil type had little influence on the forest structure within sites, except at Cocha Cashu where total AGB was much higher and liana density much lower on the more fertile old floodplain Entisols than the serra firme Oxisols. Although total stem density, basal area, and some biomass components differed significantly among forests, they seemed less variable than other quantitative measures (e.g., species richness). RESUMEN Contrastamos la estructura y la biomasa de cuatro bosques de bajura Neotropicales (La Selva, Costa Rica; Isla Barro Colorado, Panamá; Cocha Cashu, Perú; y KM41, Brasil) para determinar si existen patrones comunes entre bosques que difieren en la latitud, en la lluvia total, en la estacionalidad, y en la fertilidad de suelo. Examinamos el efecto de la fertilidad de suelo en cada sitio específicamente midiendo el área basal y densidad de árboles, lianas, y palmas en dos tipos de suelo que difieren en fertilidad. Usamos ecuaciones alométricas para estimar la contributión relativa de las varias formas de vida a la biomasa aérea (AGB) y comparamos dos ecuaciones para estimar biomasa con base en árboles , 30 cm diámetro. La densidad y AGB estimada de lianas fueron similares entre sitios, pero la densidad y AGB de árboles y palmas estimada en base solamente a diámetros fueron significativamente distintas. El área basal y la AGB de árboles , 10 cm diámetro a la altura de pecho (DAP) difirieron entre bosques y promediaron 30.2 m2/ ha y 250 Mg/ha. En Cocha Cashu y KM41 observamos mayor área basal y AGB para árboles que en La Selva o la Isla Barro Colorado. En general lianas y árboles pequeños (1,10 cm DAP) contribuyeron entre 4,5 porciento del AGB total cada uno y palmas pequeñas contribuyeron alrededor de 1 porciento. Muchos inventarios del bosque ignoran tanto las lianas como los árboles y palmas <10 cm DAP y por lo tanto subestiman AGB en alrededor de un 10 porciento. El tipo del suelo mostró una influencia pequena en la estructura del bosque dentro de sitios, menos en Cocha Cashu donde AGB total fue mucho más alto y densidad de lianas y palmas fue más bajo en los Entisols de mayor fertilidad que los Ultisols de menor fertilidad. Aunque la densidad de tallos, área basal, y algunos componentes de la biomasa difirieron significativamente entre bosques, estos parecieron menos variables que otras medidas cuanti-tativas (por ejemplo, riqueza de especies). [source]


    Interspecific and Inter-site Variation in Wood Specific Gravity of Tropical Trees

    BIOTROPICA, Issue 1 2004
    Article first published online: 15 MAR 200, Helene C. Muller-Landau
    ABSTRACT Variation in climate and soils results in inter-site differences in the assemblages of tree life history strategies within a community, which has important implications for ecosystem structure and dynamics. I investigated interspecific and inter-site variation in wood specific gravity,an easily measured indicator of tree life history strategy,in four Neotropical forests and analyzed its correlates. Mean wood specific gravity (oven-dry weight divided by fresh volume, sometimes also referred to as wood density in the literature) differed significantly among sites, varying inversely with soil fertility and independently of rainfall, seasonality, and temperature. Mean wood specific gravity values were much higher at Kilometer 41, Manaus, Brazil, where soils are extremely poor, than at Cocha Cashu, Peru, Barro Colorado Island, Panama, or La Selva, Costa Rica, where soils are better and mortality rates of trees are higher. Within sites, wood specific gravity varied widely among species. On Barro Colorado Island, among-species variation was significantly, albeit weakly, negatively correlated with sapling and tree mortality and relative growth rates. Altogether, the results suggest that the distribution of tree life history strategies in a community varies substantially among sites, with important consequences for community and ecosystem properties such as aboveground carbon stores. RESUMEN La variación climática y edáfica da lugar a diferencias entre sitios con respecto a los ensambles de las estrategias de historia de vida de los árboles de una comunidad, lo cual tiene consecuencias importantes para la estructura y la dinámica del ecosistema. Investigué la variación interespecífica y espacial en la gravedad específica de la Madera,un indicador de fácil medición de la estrategia de historia de vida de los árboles,en cuatro bosques neotropicales y analizé sus factores asociados. La gravedad especifica media de la madera (el peso seco dividido por el volumen fresco, frecuentemente llamado "densidad de la madera" en la literatura ecológica) fue significativamente diferente entre sitios, variando inversamente con la fertilidad del suelo, e independientemence de la precipitación, la estacionalidad, y la temperatura. La gravedad especifica media de la madera fue mucho más alta en Kilómetro 41, Manaus, Brasil, donde los suelos son extremadamente pobres, en comparación con Cocha Cashu, Perú, Barro Colorado, Panamá, o La Selva, Costa Rica, donde los suelos son mejores y las tasas de mortalidad de los árboles son más altas. Dentro de los sitios, la gravedad especifica de la madera varió extensamente entre especies. En Barro Colorado, la variación entre especies estuvo correlacionada negativamente, aunque sólo débilmente, con las tasas de mortalidad y de crecimiento relativo de los árboles juveniles y adultos. En conjunto, los resultados sugieren que la distribución de las estrategias de historia de vida de los árboles en una comunidad varía sustancialmente entre sitios, con consecuencias importantes para características comunitarias y del ecosistema tales como las reservas de carbono. [source]


    Seasonal Foraging Activity and Bait Preferences of Ants on Barro Colorado Island, Panama1

    BIOTROPICA, Issue 3 2002
    Daniel A. Hahn
    ABSTRACT A yearlong arboreal baiting survey of ants was conducted during 1983 on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Because of a severe El Nino event, the 1983 dry season in Panama was exceptionally long and dry with a distinct boundary between the dry and wet seasons. Baits, located on tree trunks, attracted both terrestrial and arboreal ants, allowing comparisons between the two groups. Species composition at baits changed dramatically with season. Baits were primarily occupied by arboreal species during the dry season, while wet season baits were occupied mostly by terrestrial species. Arboreal and terrestrial ants differed markedly in their preferences for protein- or carbohydrate-based baits; arboreal ants preferred protein-based baits and terrestrial ants preferred carbohydrate-based baits. Foraging preference for protein suggests that protein resources were limiting for arboreal ants, particularly during the dry season, and that carbohydrate resources were limiting for terrestrial ants. Fundamental differences in arboreal and terrestrial habitats may promote the differences in foraging strategies observed during an annual cycle in a seasonal tropical forest. RESUMEN Durante el año de 1983 se realizó un estudio mirmecológico en la isla de Barro Colorado, Panamá. Debido a que el fenómeno"El Niño" fue muy severe ese año, la estacion seca fue excepcionalmente intensa y larga; además, se observó una diferencia marcada entre la estación seca y la húmeda. Se colocaron cebos en los troncos de los árboles que atrajeron hormigas terrestres y arbóreas, lo que permitió la comparación de estos dos grupos. La composición de las especies atraidas por los cebos varió notablemente de acuerdo a la temporada; durante la estación seca predominaron las especies arbóreas, mientras que en la húmeda predominaron las terrestres. Las hormigas arbóreas y las terrestres difirieron notablemente en su preferencias por cebos preparados con proteinas o carbohidratos. Las hormigas arbóreas prefirieron las proteinas, mientras que las terrestres prefirieron los carbohidratos. La inclinación por proteinas sugiere que éstas son un recurso limitante para las hormigas arbóreas, particularmente durante la estación seca; mientras que los carbohidratos lo son para las hormigas terrestres. Las diferencias fundamentales entre los ambientes arbóreo y terrestre puede promover diferencias en las estrategias de forrajeo observadas durante el ciclo anual del bosque tropical. [source]


    Nutrient Dynamics of Soil Derived from Different Parent Material on Barro Colorado Island, Panama,

    BIOTROPICA, Issue 2 2000
    Joseph B. Yavitt
    ABSTRACT I compared the concentrations of N, P, and S in both litter and mineral soil (0,15 cm depth) from three old-growth, tropical moist forests on Barro Colorado Island (BCI), Panama. Each site was on a different substrate (i.e., parent material), but otherwise had similar climate, vegetation, and topography. There were no site differences in concentrations of N and S for either litter or soil. Concentrations of litter P and soil-extractable P were greater for the andesite (igneous rock) site than for two sites on different sedimentary rocks; however, concentrations of several other litter and soil P fractions did not differ among sites. Patterns in soil P fractions suggested advanced soil development to the point that parent material has little control of P dynamics. Litter samples from each site, leached in the laboratory, released similar amounts of N, P, and S to the soil, indicating no differences in rates of turnover in the litter and in fluxes from litter into the mineral soil among sites. I expected more site differences in soil nutrient dynamics given vastly different parent materials and soil types (i.e., Oxisol vs. Alfisol) and very shallow soil on BCI that brings the parent material close to the plant root zone. Erosion and soil mixing may explain the uniformity in soil nutrient dynamics across the sites. [source]


    The Importance of Where to Dump the Refuse: Seed Banks and Fine Roots in Nests of the Leaf-Cutting Ants Atta cephalotes and A. colombica,

    BIOTROPICA, Issue 1 2000
    Alejandro G. Farji-Brener
    ABSTRACT The location of the nutrient-rich organic refuse produced by a leaf-cutting ant colony varies among ant species. Atta cephalotes locate their organic refuse in subterranean chambers, whereas A. colombica place their organic refuse on the soil surface near the nest. We studied the effect of the absence or presence of external organic refuse on the abundance of fine roots and seed bank composition in the superficial horizons of ant nests. We sampled soils from ant nests or dumps and adjacent areas of 15 adult nests of A. cephalotes at La Selva (LS), Costa Rica, and of 15 of A. colombica nests on Barro Colorado Island (BCI), Panama. Soils from A. cephalotes nests did not differ from adjacent soils in abundance of fine-root and seed diversity. In contrast, organic refuse from A. colombica nests was less diverse in seed composition (due to the great abundance of Miconia argentea) and had a greater abundance of fine roots than adjacent areas. Thus the external location of the ant-nest organic refuse is potentially important in determining the different types of plant recolonization in abandoned or dead ant nests. The relative abundance of these Atta species may influence the structure and/or composition of tropical forests. RESUMEN En las hormigas cortadoras de hojas, la ubicación de los desechos orgánicos ricos en nutrientes producidos por el hongo que cultivan varía segun la especie. Mientras Atta cephalotesubica sus desechos orgánicos en cámaras subterráncas, A. colombicalos coloca sobre la superficie del suelo cerca del nido. Nosotros estudiamos el efecto de la presencia o ausencia de desechos orgánicos externos sobre la abundancia de raíces finas y la composición del banco de semillas en los suelos superficiales cerca de los hormigueros. Para ello sacamos muestras de basureros o suelo superficial en 15 nidos y areas adjacentes de A. cephalotesen La Selva (LS), Costa Rica, y en 15 nidos de A. colombica ubicados en Barro Colorado (BCI), Panamá. Los suelos de A. cephalotesno difirieron de los suelos adjacentes en abundancia de raíces finas ni en la diversidad de semillas. Por el contrario, los desechos orgánicos externos en nidos de A. colombicafueron menos diversos en composición de semillas (debido principalmente a la gran dominancia de Miconia argentea) y tuvieron una mayor concentración de raices finas que los suelos adyacentes. La ubicación de los desechos es poten-cialmente importance en determinar los diferentes tipos de plantas que pueden recolonizar los nidos abandonados o muertos. Por lo tanto, la abundancia relativa de estas especies de Atta pueden influir en la estructura y/composicion de los bosques tropicales. [source]