Nutrient acquisition facilitated by litter collection and ant colonies on two Malaysian palms

Daemonorops verticillaris (Griff.) Mart. and D. macrophylla Becc. are two rattan palms of peninsular Malaysia which are characteristically associated with a resident ant colony. The ants construct a nest utilizing plant hairs alone, or hair and spines, which is capable of absorbing approximately 185 percent water by weight. Use of a C tracer shows that water-or nutrient-enhanced throughfall is absorbed by the nest, subsquently taken into the plant and translocated to developing tissue. D. verticillaris and to a lesser extent, D. macrophylla trap falling debris (leaves, twig, and fruits) around the plant apex. Precipitation, or throughfall percolates through this material, is directed toward the stem, and is absorbed by the ant nest material. Taken together, debris collection and water absorption constitute a unique and effective mechanism of nutrient enhancement and recycling for these particular plants.