Attack frequency and the tolerance to herbivory of Neotropical savanna trees

Mundim, Fabiane M.; Bruna, Emilio M.; Vieira‐Neto, Ernane H. M.; Vasconcelos, Heraldo L.

doi:10.1007/s00442-011-2088-8

Cited by 38 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…A study using experimental defoliations that mimicked patterns of attack by Atta spp. in Brazilian Cerrado tree species also showed that total defoliation caused plant mortality and that plant mortality is higher depending on how many times the same plant is defoliated (Mundim et al, 2012).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Leaf-cutting ant attack in initial pine plantations and growth of defoliated plants

Nickele

Filho²,

Oliveira³

et al. 2012

Pesq. agropec. bras.

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-The objective of this work was to evaluate the natural attack by Acromyrmex crassispinus in initial Pinus taeda plantations without control measures against ants, as well as the effect of defoliation in seedlings of P. taeda. Evaluations of the attack of leaf-cutting ants on P. taeda plantations were done monthly in the first six months, then 9 and 12 months after planting. The percentages of plants that were naturally attacked by ants were registered. The effect of defoliation was evaluated by artificial defoliation, simulating the natural patterns of attack by A. crassispinus on P. taeda seedlings. The natural attack of A. crassispinus was greater during the first months after planting, being more intense in the first 30 days. Artificial defoliation indicated that there were no significant losses in diameter and height in plants with less than 75% defoliation. However, there were significant losses in diameter and height in plants with 100% defoliation, independently of the cut of the apical meristem, and also plant death. The control of leaf-cutting ants in P. taeda plantings, in which A. crassispinus is the most frequent leaf-cutting ant, should be intense only at the beginning of planting, since the most severe attacks occur during this time.Index terms: Acromyrmex crassispinus, Pinus taeda, artificial defoliation, forest pest. Ataque de formigas cortadeiras em plantios iniciais de pinus e crescimento de plantas desfolhadasResumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o ataque natural de Acromyrmex crassispinus em plantios iniciais de Pinus taeda sem controle contra formigas, bem como o efeito da desfolha em mudas de P. taeda. As avaliações do ataque de formigas cortadeiras em plantios de P. taeda foram realizadas mensalmente nos primeiros seis meses, depois aos 9 e 12 meses após o plantio. As percentagens de plantas naturalmente atacadas por formigas foram registradas. O efeito da desfolha foi avaliado por meio do desfolhamento artificial, ao se simularem os ciclos naturais de ataque de A. crassispinus em mudas de P. taeda. O ataque natural de A. crassispinus foi maior nos primeiros meses após o plantio, tendo sido mais intenso durante os primeiros 30 dias. A desfolha artificial indicou que não houve perdas significativas no diâmetro e na altura de plantas com menos de 75% de desfolha. No entanto, observaram-se perdas significativas no diâmetro e na altura de plantas 100% desfolhadas, independentemente do corte da gema apical, e também a morte de plantas. O controle de formigas cortadeiras em plantios de P. taeda, em que A. crassispinus é a formiga cortadeira mais frequente, deve ser intenso somente no início do plantio, pois os ataques mais severos ocorrem neste período.Termos para indexação: Acromyrmex crassispinus, Pinus taeda, desfolha artificial, praga florestal.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Leaf-cutting ant attack in initial pine plantations and growth of defoliated plants

Nickele

Filho²,

Oliveira³

et al. 2012

Pesq. agropec. bras.

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“…In addition, their selective plant harvesting can alter nutrient cycling (Moutinho, Nepstad & Davidson ) and the survival and reproduction of plant species (Mundim et al . ), which could ultimately alter plant demography and community composition. Leaf‐cutter ants are also major crop pests (Fowler et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…; Farji‐Brener & Ghermandi ; Mundim et al . ) and are arguably the region's most important agricultural pest (Hölldobler & Wilson ). They also have a number of traits that make them ideal superorganisms with which to conduct demographic studies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Roads increase population growth rates of a native leaf‐cutter ant in Neotropical savannahs

Vieira‐Neto

Vasconcelos

Bruna

2016

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Summary A challenge in applied ecology is understanding the responses of native species to roads, which are ubiquitous drivers of environmental heterogeneity. While most studies highlight their negative effects, the potential for native species to increase in abundance near roads has been underappreciated, and the demographic mechanisms underlying abundance changes remain unclear. Elucidating these mechanisms requires first determining how demographic vital rates and life‐history stages interact to influence population growth. One can then assess how roads alter the relative importance of the alternative demographic pathways – increased performance of early vs. late life stages – suggested as the principal drivers of increased population growth. We parameterized demographic models with 3 years of census data and conducted perturbation analyses to evaluate how proximity to roads altered abundance and demography. To do so, we used the leaf‐cutter ant Atta laevigata as our model organism. Leaf‐cutters are native ecosystem engineers and dominant herbivores in Neotropical ecosystems and also amongst the longest lived insects in nature. Our study was conducted in Cerrado savannahs, where road networks are rapidly expanding and Atta species are major agricultural pests. We found that 35–45% of adult colonies were located within 15 m of roads, which is significantly closer than expected at random. Population growth rates (λ) were >1 both near and far from roads, but λ near roads were significantly (41%) higher. Elasticities of λ to early survival and growth rates were proportionally much higher than those of adult stages, irrespective of habitat. Life‐table response experiment results indicate that the higher λ near roads was due primarily to the much higher colonization and early‐life performance there. Synthesis and applications. Road networks are proliferating throughout biodiversity‐rich regions. Developing conservation and management guidelines for species whose abundance is altered by roads requires understanding the demographic mechanisms that underpin these changes. We demonstrate that the higher growth rate of roadside Atta laevigata populations is due to increased early‐life performance. Thus, the expansion of road networks could have major ecological and economic consequences by facilitating the increased abundance of ecosystem engineers and agricultural pests. Accounting for A. laevigata early life stages and careful planning of road placement should improve management strategies of protected areas and agricultural systems in Neotropical savannahs.

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“…Short-term responses to above ground branch removal in Combretum apiculatum Sonder showed that over the season, leaf N levels were higher on severely defoliated trees compared to trees not defoliated (Rooke and Bergstrom 2007). Leaf N levels were higher for Cardiopetalum callophylum (Annonaceae) and Maprounea guianensis (Euphorbiaceae) trees clipped monthly compared to trees clipped after every 3 months (Mundim et al 2012). There were also higher leaf N levels on heavily browsed Acacia nigrecsens, Miller, compared to lightly browsed trees (Fornara and Du Toit 2007).…”

Section: Effects On Foliar Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of repeated cutting on coppice response of Terminalia sericea

Moyo

Scholes

Twine

2014

Trees

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Key message Although exposure to multiple cutting cycles reduces stored reserves, shoot diameter and shoot length, it, however, increases shoot production per resprouting stump and foliar nitrogen. Abstract In disturbance-prone environments with fluctuating seasonal rainfall such as savannas, the repeated cutting of the same trees eventually results in a possible decline in tree abundance. The effects of subjecting Terminalia sericea trees to one, two and multiple (eight) cutting events over a period of 2 years on coppice response were investigated in a savanna woodland in South Africa. Resprout shoot diameter, shoot length and the total cumulative diameter were lower in trees exposed to a high number of cutting events compared to trees exposed to one cutting event. Increasing the number of cutting events significantly reduced stem total non-structural carbohydrate levels in trees indicating a depletion of stored reserves. Foliar carbon content remained largely the same, while leaf nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations significantly increased with each cutting event, relative to uncut trees. Results indicate that trees cut once had not replenished depleted carbohydrate reserves even after a period of 18 months during which no cutting took place. Sustainable utilization of this tree species must allow for at least more than 18 months of undisturbed growth between harvests to allow for the replenishing of reserves.

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Attack frequency and the tolerance to herbivory of Neotropical savanna trees

Cited by 38 publications

References 54 publications

Leaf-cutting ant attack in initial pine plantations and growth of defoliated plants

Leaf-cutting ant attack in initial pine plantations and growth of defoliated plants

Roads increase population growth rates of a native leaf‐cutter ant in Neotropical savannahs

The effects of repeated cutting on coppice response of Terminalia sericea

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