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FLORAM receives Impact Factor

We are pleased to announce that FLORAM has received its first impact factor rating in the 2022 Journal Citation Reports (JCR).

Now FLORAM has the highest impact factor among Brazilian Forest Sciences journals.

Floresta e Ambiente
https://www.floram.org/article/doi/10.1590/2179-8087.015118
Floresta e Ambiente
Original Article Conservation of Nature

Ants Promote Germination of the Tree Guarea guidonia by Cleaning its Seeds

Bianca Ferreira Silva; Igor Henrique Freitas Azevedo; Antonio Mayhé-Nunes; Tiago Breier; Andre Felippe Nunes de Freitas

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Abstract

ABSTRACT: Ants interact with seeds, and frequently remove their appendages. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of ants on the germination of Guarea guidonia (Meliaceae) seeds through removing the fleshy tissue of their integument (sarcotesta). The seeds were subjected to the following treatments: control (no sarcotesta removal), manual removal, and removal by ants. The results show that germination percentage and time varied among treatments, with removal by ants showing the highest percentage within the shortest possible time. The positive effect of sarcotesta removal by ants points to a possible action of anti-fungal substances. As germination is an essential step for recruitment, ant activity may be important to the regeneration of a deforested area. Further studies should consider germination experiments under natural conditions in order to increase the understanding on plant development.

Keywords

ant-plant interaction, recruitment, seed germination, Solenopsis, Atlantic Forest

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