Interspecific variation in the defensive responses of obligate plant-ants: Experimental tests and consequences for herbivory
The aggressive behavior of ants that protect plants from herbivores in exchange for rewards such as shelter or food is thought to be an important form of biotic defense against herbivory, particularly in tropical systems. To date, however, no one has compared the defensive responses of different ant...
| Autor principal: | Bruna, Emilio M. |
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| Outros Autores: | Lapola, David Montenegro, Vasconcelos, Heraldo L. |
| Grau: | Artigo |
| Idioma: | English |
| Publicado em: |
Oecologia
2020
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| Acesso em linha: |
https://repositorio.inpa.gov.br/handle/1/18935 |
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oai:repositorio:1-18935 |
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oai:repositorio:1-18935 Interspecific variation in the defensive responses of obligate plant-ants: Experimental tests and consequences for herbivory Bruna, Emilio M. Lapola, David Montenegro Vasconcelos, Heraldo L. Antiherbivore Defense Herbivory Interspecific Variation Mutualism Myrmecophyte Plant Defense Adaptation Animals Ant Host Parasite Interaction Melastomataceae Parasitology Physiology Adaptation, Physiological Animal Ants Host-parasite Relations Melastomataceae Amazonia South America Animalsia Azteca Crematogaster Laevis Formicidae Hymenoptera Melastomataceae Tococa The aggressive behavior of ants that protect plants from herbivores in exchange for rewards such as shelter or food is thought to be an important form of biotic defense against herbivory, particularly in tropical systems. To date, however, no one has compared the defensive responses of different ant taxa associated with the same plant species, and attempted to relate these differences to longer-term efficacy of ant defense. We used experimental cues associated with herbivory - physical damage and extracts of chemical volatiles from leaf tissue - to compare the aggressive responses of two ant species obligately associated with the Amazonian myrmecophyte Tococa bullifera (Melastomataceae). We also conducted a colony removal experiment to quantify the level of resistance from herbivores provided to plants by each ant species. Our experiments demonstrate that some cues eliciting a strong response from one ant species elicited no response by the other. For cues that do elicit responses, the magnitude of these responses can vary interspecifically. These patterns were consistent with the level of resistance provided from herbivores to plants. The colony removal experiment showed that both ant species defend plants from herbivores: however, herbivory was higher on plants colonized by the less aggressive ant species. Our results add to the growing body of literature indicating defensive ant responses are stimulated by cues associated with herbivory. However, they also suggest the local and regional variation in the composition of potential partner taxa could influence the ecology and evolution of defensive mutualisms in ways that have previously remained unexplored. 2020-06-15T22:04:00Z 2020-06-15T22:04:00Z 2004 Artigo https://repositorio.inpa.gov.br/handle/1/18935 10.1007/s00442-003-1455-5 en Volume 138, Número 4, Pags. 558-565 Restrito Oecologia |
| institution |
Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia - Repositório Institucional |
| collection |
INPA-RI |
| language |
English |
| topic |
Antiherbivore Defense Herbivory Interspecific Variation Mutualism Myrmecophyte Plant Defense Adaptation Animals Ant Host Parasite Interaction Melastomataceae Parasitology Physiology Adaptation, Physiological Animal Ants Host-parasite Relations Melastomataceae Amazonia South America Animalsia Azteca Crematogaster Laevis Formicidae Hymenoptera Melastomataceae Tococa |
| spellingShingle |
Antiherbivore Defense Herbivory Interspecific Variation Mutualism Myrmecophyte Plant Defense Adaptation Animals Ant Host Parasite Interaction Melastomataceae Parasitology Physiology Adaptation, Physiological Animal Ants Host-parasite Relations Melastomataceae Amazonia South America Animalsia Azteca Crematogaster Laevis Formicidae Hymenoptera Melastomataceae Tococa Bruna, Emilio M. Interspecific variation in the defensive responses of obligate plant-ants: Experimental tests and consequences for herbivory |
| topic_facet |
Antiherbivore Defense Herbivory Interspecific Variation Mutualism Myrmecophyte Plant Defense Adaptation Animals Ant Host Parasite Interaction Melastomataceae Parasitology Physiology Adaptation, Physiological Animal Ants Host-parasite Relations Melastomataceae Amazonia South America Animalsia Azteca Crematogaster Laevis Formicidae Hymenoptera Melastomataceae Tococa |
| description |
The aggressive behavior of ants that protect plants from herbivores in exchange for rewards such as shelter or food is thought to be an important form of biotic defense against herbivory, particularly in tropical systems. To date, however, no one has compared the defensive responses of different ant taxa associated with the same plant species, and attempted to relate these differences to longer-term efficacy of ant defense. We used experimental cues associated with herbivory - physical damage and extracts of chemical volatiles from leaf tissue - to compare the aggressive responses of two ant species obligately associated with the Amazonian myrmecophyte Tococa bullifera (Melastomataceae). We also conducted a colony removal experiment to quantify the level of resistance from herbivores provided to plants by each ant species. Our experiments demonstrate that some cues eliciting a strong response from one ant species elicited no response by the other. For cues that do elicit responses, the magnitude of these responses can vary interspecifically. These patterns were consistent with the level of resistance provided from herbivores to plants. The colony removal experiment showed that both ant species defend plants from herbivores: however, herbivory was higher on plants colonized by the less aggressive ant species. Our results add to the growing body of literature indicating defensive ant responses are stimulated by cues associated with herbivory. However, they also suggest the local and regional variation in the composition of potential partner taxa could influence the ecology and evolution of defensive mutualisms in ways that have previously remained unexplored. |
| format |
Artigo |
| author |
Bruna, Emilio M. |
| author2 |
Lapola, David Montenegro Vasconcelos, Heraldo L. |
| author2Str |
Lapola, David Montenegro Vasconcelos, Heraldo L. |
| title |
Interspecific variation in the defensive responses of obligate plant-ants: Experimental tests and consequences for herbivory |
| title_short |
Interspecific variation in the defensive responses of obligate plant-ants: Experimental tests and consequences for herbivory |
| title_full |
Interspecific variation in the defensive responses of obligate plant-ants: Experimental tests and consequences for herbivory |
| title_fullStr |
Interspecific variation in the defensive responses of obligate plant-ants: Experimental tests and consequences for herbivory |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Interspecific variation in the defensive responses of obligate plant-ants: Experimental tests and consequences for herbivory |
| title_sort |
interspecific variation in the defensive responses of obligate plant-ants: experimental tests and consequences for herbivory |
| publisher |
Oecologia |
| publishDate |
2020 |
| url |
https://repositorio.inpa.gov.br/handle/1/18935 |
| _version_ |
1787142440246837248 |
| score |
11.653393 |