Extrafloral nectar increases seed removal by ants inTurnera ulmifolia

To investigate whether extrafloral nectar (EFN) increases seed dispersal in Turnera ulmifolia we measured seed removal on plants with and without EFN. Plants producing EFN had more seeds removed than control plants, suggesting that EFN does play a role in seed dispersal. This is a novel function of EFN.We thank Joshua King for identifying ants; the Florida State Park staff for field assistance; Ceilidh Dutton for help with the figure; and anonymous reviewers for their comments. An Ontario Graduate Scholarship to EMD, NSERC Discovery Grants to JSS and MEF, and an Early Researcher Award from the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation to MEF funded this research. A scientific (non-commercial) research/collecting permit (no. 09041415) was issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Recreation and Parks, Florida Parks Service