TY - JOUR
T1 - Azteca instabilis ants and the defence of a coffee shade tree
T2 - An ant-plant association without mutual rewards in Chiapas, Mexico
AU - Gonthier, David J.
AU - Pardee, Gabriella L.
AU - Philpott, Stacy M.
PY - 2010/5
Y1 - 2010/5
N2 - Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are important predators of herbivorous insects on plants (Rosumek et al. 2009). Ant removal or absence may result in negative indirect effects on plants, as herbivore abundance and herbivory increase and plant growth and reproduction decline (Rosumek et al. 2009, Schmitz et al. 2000). Ant presence on plants often results from a mutualistic interaction. For example, strong highly coevolved ant-plant mutualisms are found on myrmecophytic plants that house ants in domatia (specialized nesting sites). Weaker mutualistic associations are found with myrmecophilic plants that only offer extra-floral nectaries (EFNs) or food bodies to attract ants, or on other plants hosting honeydew-producing hemipterans (indirect ant-plant interactions) that mediate ant abundance (Hlldobler & Wilson 1990). However, in most cases, plants and arboreal ants form more passive associations, where ants nest in the natural cavities of branches or bark, or construct carton nests on plant substrates (Hlldobler & Wilson 1990) and the only reward plants offer these ants is the use of their substrates. In these situations the indirect effect of ants on plants is merely by chance, a byproduct of ant presence (byproduct association).
AB - Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are important predators of herbivorous insects on plants (Rosumek et al. 2009). Ant removal or absence may result in negative indirect effects on plants, as herbivore abundance and herbivory increase and plant growth and reproduction decline (Rosumek et al. 2009, Schmitz et al. 2000). Ant presence on plants often results from a mutualistic interaction. For example, strong highly coevolved ant-plant mutualisms are found on myrmecophytic plants that house ants in domatia (specialized nesting sites). Weaker mutualistic associations are found with myrmecophilic plants that only offer extra-floral nectaries (EFNs) or food bodies to attract ants, or on other plants hosting honeydew-producing hemipterans (indirect ant-plant interactions) that mediate ant abundance (Hlldobler & Wilson 1990). However, in most cases, plants and arboreal ants form more passive associations, where ants nest in the natural cavities of branches or bark, or construct carton nests on plant substrates (Hlldobler & Wilson 1990) and the only reward plants offer these ants is the use of their substrates. In these situations the indirect effect of ants on plants is merely by chance, a byproduct of ant presence (byproduct association).
KW - Alticinae
KW - Beetles
KW - Chrysomelidae
KW - Conostegia xalapensis
KW - Tri-trophic interaction
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U2 - 10.1017/S0266467409990666
DO - 10.1017/S0266467409990666
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:77952477825
SN - 0266-4674
VL - 26
SP - 343
EP - 346
JO - Journal of Tropical Ecology
JF - Journal of Tropical Ecology
IS - 3
ER -