Seed removal by rodents, ants and birds in the Simpson Desert, central Australia

Using a seed dish technique in the Simpson Desert, Australia, it was found that ants removed the most seeds in the two time periods tested, followed by birds and then rodents, supporting previous work that has suggested that rodents are a minor element of this granivore community. However, a comparison with an energetics approach suggested that the relative contribution of rodents may have been underestimated. The indirect approach further suggested that at times of peak population numbers, rates of seed removal by Australian rodents may be greater than that by North American rodents.