The myrmecochory is an important process for the vegetation dynamic in different ecosystems, especially in the neotropics. However, the relationship between ants and non myrmecochorus diaspores is sparsely documented for environments of South America. Thus, this study aimed to quantify the removal rate of non myrmecochorus diaspores by ants in a Cerrado remnant and the influence of energy source presence or its abundance in diaspores for ant removal chance. Ant fauna removed 19.81% of non myrmecochorus diaspores collected and the presence of energy resources determines their removal, not being a significant relationship between abundance and removal. Since most diaspores collected were not fleshy, with few or none available energy resources for ants, the importance of ant fauna for diaspores removal of non myrmecochocorus may have been underestimated.
Cerrado; Myrmecochory; Elaiosome
