Acta Agrestia Sinica

Acta Agrestia Sinica ›› 2026, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (2): 592-600.DOI: 10.11733/j.issn.1007-0435.2026.02.021

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Effects of Cataglyphis aenescens on Seeds Dispersal of Ephedra rhytidosperma at the Eastern Foot of Helan Mountain

WEI Si-yu1,2,3,4, MA Qin1,2,3,4, LIANG Yong-liang5,6, XU Hao7, JIN Ting-wen7, NA He-ya7, MA Zhi-xiang7, LI Xiao-wei1,2,3,4   

  1. 1. College of Forestry and Prataculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750021, China;
    2. Ningxia Grassland and Animal Husbandry Engineering Technology Research Center, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750021, China;
    3. Key Laboratory for Model Innovation in Forage Production Efficiency, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750021, China;
    4. Key Laboratory of Land Degradation and Ecological Restoration in Northwest China, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750021, China;
    5. Ningxia Helan Mountain National Nature Reserve Administration, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750021, China;
    6. Helan Mountain forest ecosystem Ningxia field scientific observation and research station, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750021, China;
    7. Inner Mongolia Helan Mountain National Nature Reserve, Alxa Left Banner, Inner Mongolia 750300, China
  • Received:2025-03-18 Revised:2025-04-23 Published:2026-01-22

艾箭蚁对贺兰山东麓斑子麻黄种子散布的影响

魏思宇1,2,3,4, 马琴1,2,3,4, 梁咏亮5,6, 徐皓7, 金廷文7, 娜荷芽7, 马志祥7, 李小伟1,2,3,4   

  1. 1. 宁夏大学林业与草业学院, 宁夏 银川 750021;
    2. 宁夏大学宁夏草牧业工程技术研究中心, 宁夏 银川 750021;
    3. 宁夏大学农业农村部饲草高效生产模式创新重点实验室, 宁夏 银川 750021;
    4. 宁夏大学西北土地退化与生态恢复国家重点实验室培育基地, 宁夏 银川 750021;
    5. 宁夏贺兰山国家级自然保护区管理局, 宁夏 银川 750021;
    6. 贺兰山森林生态系统宁夏野外科学观测研究站, 宁夏 银川 750021;
    7. 内蒙古贺兰山国家级自然保护区, 内蒙古 阿拉善左旗 750300
  • 通讯作者: 李小伟，E-mail:lxwbq@126.com
  • 作者简介:魏思宇（2001-），女，汉族，甘肃天水人，硕士研究生，主要从事草地生态、资源与环境研究，E-mail:2879277093@qq.com；
  • 基金资助:
    贺兰山东麓珍稀濒危植物斑子麻黄保护生物学研究项目（2022）；宁夏贺兰山植被调查项目（2025）；内蒙古贺兰山国家级自然保护区科学考察项目（2023）；宁夏高等学校一流学科建设（草学学科）项目（NXYLXK2017A01）；2022年中央财政林草生态保护资金贺兰山雪豹廊道调查项目（D6400000141009056_1）资助

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Abstract: Seeds diffusion involving ants is a key link in the renewal of plant populations in desert ecosystems. Analyzing the interaction mechanisms between ants and plants is of great value for the conservation of endangered species. This study focused on Ephedra rhytidosperma， a plant species endemic to the Helan Mountains. Through field behavior observations （continuous tracking and recording for 3 days）， controlled experiments （removal treatment of aril， density gradients of 10， 20 and 30 individuals·m-2） and combined with laboratory analysis， this study revealed the mechanism of action of Cataglyphis aenescens in the seeds dispersal of this species. The results showed that the peak of seeds transportation by Cataglyphis aenescens occurs from 10：00 to 11：00 in the morning， with an average transportation distance of 4.0 meters. The aril， due to its high nutritional content， has become a key factor affecting the transportation of Ephedra rhytidosperma seeds. The transportation quantity of Cataglyphis aenescens for the three different types of targets is as follows： intact seeds > aril > seeds with aril removed， and the transportation efficiency also decreases after aril removal. Cataglyphis aenescens shows bidirectional regulation in the transportation of seeds of different densities. High-density seeds are more likely to attract ants， but the removal rate is lower. This study revealed the nutritional reciprocity mechanism of Ephedra rhytidosperma seeds diffusion mediated by Cataglyphis aenescens， providing an important scientific basis for the recovery of endangered plant populations in desert ecosystems.

Key words: Ephedra rhytidosperma, Ant propagation, Aril, Seed density

摘要： 蚂蚁参与的种子扩散是荒漠生态系统植物种群更新的关键环节，解析其互作机制对濒危物种保育具有重要价值。本研究以贺兰山特有植物斑子麻黄（Ephedra rhytidosperma）为对象，通过野外行为观测（3天连续跟踪记录）和控制实验（假种皮去除处理，10，20和30 粒·m-2密度梯度），结合室内分析，揭示艾箭蚁（Cataglyphis aenescens）在该物种种子传播中的作用机制。结果表明：艾箭蚁搬运种子的高峰出现在上午10：00—11：00，平均搬运距离为4.0 m；假种皮因其具有较高的营养成分成为影响斑子麻黄种子被搬运的关键因素，艾箭蚁对三种不同类型目标的搬运数量表现为完整种子>假种皮>去除假种皮种子，且假种皮去除后搬运效率也下降；艾箭蚁对不同密度种子的搬运表现出双向调控，高密度种子更容易吸引蚂蚁，但移出率较低。本研究揭示了艾箭蚁介导下斑子麻黄种子扩散的营养互惠机制，为荒漠生态系统中濒危植物种群恢复提供了重要的科学依据。

关键词: 斑子麻黄, 蚁播, 假种皮, 种子密度