Extrafloral nectar as a driver of arboreal ant communities at the site‐scale in Brazilian savanna

Ribeiro, Laila Fieto; Solar, Ricardo; Muscardi, Dalana Campos; Schoereder, José H.; Andersen, Alan N.

doi:10.1111/aec.12612

Cited by 19 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 69 publications

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“…These findings of similar community composition across the cactus density gradient align with previous studies that found EFN‐producing plants did not strongly structure ant species composition (Belchior et al, 2016; Camarota et al, 2015), yet contrast with recent work that identified an increase in ant species richness and a shift in community composition with abundance of EFN‐producing trees (Ribeiro et al, 2018). Specifically, Ribeiro et al (2018) characterized ant species richness on EFN‐bearing trees. Unlike tree cholla cacti at our study site, these trees were tended by multiple ant species at a time.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Does ant–plant mutualism have spillover effects on the non‐partner ant community?

Donald

Miller

2022

Ecology and Evolution

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Mutualism benefits partner species, and theory predicts these partnerships can affect the abundance, diversity, and composition of partner and non‐partner species. We used 16 years of monitoring data to determine the ant partner species of tree cholla cacti (Cylindropuntia imbricata), which reward ants with extrafloral nectar in exchange for anti‐herbivore defense. These long‐term data revealed one dominant ant partner (Liometopum apiculatum) and two less common partners (Crematogaster opuntiae and Forelius pruinosus). We then used short‐term characterization of the terrestrial ant community by pitfall trapping to sample partner and non‐partner ant species across ten plots of varying cactus density. We found that the dominant ant partner tended a higher proportion cacti in plots of higher cactus density, and was also found at higher occurrence within the pitfall traps in higher density plots, suggesting a strong positive feedback that promotes ant partner occurrence where plant partners are available. Despite the strong association and increased partner occurrence, ant community‐wide effects from this mutualism appear limited. Of the common ant species, the occurrence of a single non‐partner ant species was negatively associated with cactus density and with the increased presence of L. apiculatum. Additionally, the composition and diversity of the ant community in our plots were insensitive to cactus density variation, indicating that positive effects of the mutualism on the dominant ant partner did not have cascading impacts on the ant community. This study provides novel evidence that exclusive mutualisms, even those with a strong positive feedback, may be limited in the scope of their community‐level effects.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Does ant–plant mutualism have spillover effects on the non‐partner ant community?

Donald

Miller

2022

Ecology and Evolution

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“…We found a negative association between ant nest richness and herbivory, but no association between ant nest richness and the number of visiting ant species on S. polyantha . These results do not support the idea that ant species‐rich environments should benefit plants with EFNs (Ribeiro et al, 2018). Environmental filters may prevent the local diversity of ant nests to be translated into the observed number of ant species visiting S. polyantha plants.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 72%

Ant nest distribution and richness have opposite effects on a Neotropical plant with extrafloral nectaries

Moura

Couto

Del‐Claro

2022

Ecological Entomology

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Studies assessing the effects of the spatial distribution of ant nests on ant‐plant mutualisms are rare, even though they could be decisive to the outcomes of such interactions. Here, we investigated how ant nest abundance and richness affected a Neotropical plant with extrafloral nectaries (EFN), Smilax polyantha (Smilacaceae). We used baits to sample all nests of mutualistic ants within a 12 m radius of each plant. All neighbouring plants with EFN within 10 m of each tagged plant were also sampled. We measured foliar herbivory and fruit production of each S. polyantha. We hypothesized that (i) high numbers of ant nests near S. polyantha individuals would reduce foliar herbivory and increase fruit production, and that (ii) high ant nest richness would increase foliar herbivory and reduce fruit production. Results showed that plants surrounded by more ant nests had lower foliar herbivory and higher fruit production. However, ant nest richness was associated with higher foliar herbivory. Furthermore, plants producing more leaves and those surrounded by more neighbouring plants with EFN had reduced herbivory. Despite this, S. polyantha had low numbers of ant nests and reduced fruit production when surrounded by high numbers of neighbours with EFN. We suggest that the spatial distribution of ant nests and resources (plants with EFN) play an important role in ant‐mediated mutualisms, where both ants and plants are likely competing for each other's services. Thus, incorporating these two variables in ecological models should provide insights into how protective mutualisms are structured.

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“…Defensive activities were disproportionately observed among species in this study, with only five “core” ant species exhibiting dominance (see Ribeiro, Solar, Muscardi, Schoereder, & Andersen, ). These ants have traits that define dominance (as defined by Cerdá, Arnan, & Retana, ), such as massive recruitment (numerical dominance) and high aggressiveness (behavioral dominance), suggesting that they can be considered “mutualists of high quantitative value”, one of the components of the plant protection effectiveness framework (Schupp et al., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

Nectar quality affects ant aggressiveness and biotic defense provided to plants

et al. 2019

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Ant–plant mutualisms are useful models for investigating how plant traits mediate interspecific interactions. As plant‐derived resources are essential components of ant diets, plants that offer more nutritious food to ants should be better defended in return, as a result of more aggressive behavior toward natural enemies. We tested this hypothesis in a field experiment by adding artificial nectaries to individuals of the species Vochysia elliptica (Vochysiaceae). Ants were offered one of four liquid foods of different nutritional quality: amino acids, sugar, sugar + amino acids, and water (control). We used live termites (Nasutitermes coxipoensis) as herbivore competitors and observed ant behavior toward them. In 88 hr of observations, we recorded 1,009 interactions with artificial nectaries involving 1,923 individual ants of 26 species. We recorded 381 encounters between ants and termites, of which 38% led to attack. Sixty‐one percent of these attacks led to termite exclusion from the plants. Recruitment and patrolling were highest when ants fed upon nectaries providing sugar + amino acids, the most nutritious food. This increase in recruitment and patrolling led to higher encounter rates between ants and termites, more frequent attacks, and faster and more complete termite removal. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that plant biotic defense is mediated by resource quality. We highlight the importance of qualitative differences in nectar composition for the outcome of ant–plant interactions. Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.

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Extrafloral nectar as a driver of arboreal ant communities at the site‐scale in Brazilian savanna

Cited by 19 publications

References 69 publications

Does ant–plant mutualism have spillover effects on the non‐partner ant community?

Does ant–plant mutualism have spillover effects on the non‐partner ant community?

Ant nest distribution and richness have opposite effects on a Neotropical plant with extrafloral nectaries

Nectar quality affects ant aggressiveness and biotic defense provided to plants

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