Abstract:

Codariocalyx motorius growed as a common perennial pioneer plant in slash and burn shifting field in tropical and subtropical mountains of Yunnan Province, China. The field investigations showed a mutualism between ants and C. motorius.It was observed that ants moved seeds of C. motorius into their nests. The effect of ants on C. motorius seeds′ vitality during slash and burn process was studied in field. The results showed that all of the seeds on surface lost their germinating ability after burning. However, germinating rates of the seeds, which were buried in depth of soils from 5cm to 10cm and experienced a burning period of 5, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min respectively, increased significantly compared to those of the control seeds. And moreover germinating rate of the seeds in 5cm below surface was higher than that of seeds in 10cm deep under the surface, and germinating period of the former was lower than the one of the latter. So, due to ants′ moving, the seeds of C.motorius during a slash and burn cultivation could survive from burning. Subsequently, C. motorius community recovered and dispersed. It could be considered mutualism between ants and C. motorius.

Key words: Codariocalyx motorius seed, Ants, Slash-and-burn, Tropic and sub tropic mountainous agriculture, Yunnan Province