Production of extrafloral nectar in the Neotropical shrub Turnera subulata mediated by biotic and abiotic factors

Rocha, Marcos Leandro da Cruz; Cristaldo, Paulo F.; Lima, Paulo Sérgio Santos; Santos, Amanda Teixeira dos; Sacramento, Jailton Jorge Marques do; Santana, Daniela Lúcio; Oliveira, Bruna Vieira dos Santos; Bacci, Leandro; Araújo, Ana Paula Albano

doi:10.1016/j.flora.2019.151483

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 41 publications

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“…One reason to explain the predominance of a few species as study subjects is that once a study-system is established scientists tend to explore it in several ways. Since plant–ant interactions are highly conditional over time and space and are influenced by biological factors (ants and herbivores) (Franco & Cogni 2013, Koch et al 2016, Del-Claro et al 2016, Cruz Rocha et al 2019, Domingos & Alves Silva 2023, Souza et al 2024), studying several aspects of this mutualism in a few species might provide rich data, allowing for comparisons among different approaches, time, locales, and associated arthropod fauna.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fabaceae and Cerrado savanna: Two descriptors of Brazilian extrafloral nectary plants

Barbosa,

Bächtold,

Del-Claro

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) have been described in almost 4000 plant species, but there are several gaps in our knowledge of their occurrence and distribution. Here, we investigated the geographical distribution and richness of EFN-plants in Brazilian biomes (Cerrado, Atlantic Forest, Caatinga, Amazon, Pantanal, and Pampa). Data were extracted from 170 papers, and our analysis included only EFN-plants that interacted with ants. A total of 224 EFN-plant species in 115 genera and 48 families were registered in five biomes: Cerrado, Atlantic Forest, Caatinga, Pampa, and the Amazon. The Cerrado was evaluated in 64% of all publications, had the highest richness (90 species) and the most exclusive flora compared to the other biomes. In addition, the most studied species belonged to the Cerrado flora (e.g., Caryocar brasiliense). Fabaceae was the most speciose family, with 76 species, being dominant in all biomes and greatly surpassing other families. Only Fabaceae and Euphorbiaceae were found in all biomes, and in general, each biome had its own flora, as only 18 (of 224) plants were found in more than one biome. In a network analysis, Qualea grandilflora and Plathymenia reticulata were relatively more important than other species, as they connected biomes and increased the cohesion of the community. Our study shows that our understanding of EFN-plants is limited because the Fabaceae and Cerrado were overrepresented. A detailed record of species occurrence and distribution could be a valuable tool for studying the biodiversity of EFN-plants and their potential mutualistic interactions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fabaceae and Cerrado savanna: Two descriptors of Brazilian extrafloral nectary plants

Barbosa,

Bächtold,

Del-Claro

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Effect of ants on herbivory levels ofInga laurina: the interplay between space and time in an urban area

Domingos

Alves-Silva²

2023

J. Trop. Ecol.

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Extrafloral nectary plants not only occur in natural areas but also in urban parks. These areas are prone to edge effects, and plants face different microenvironmental conditions. We investigated the spatial variation of ant–plant interactions in an urban park, and we examined if plants with ants would show lower herbivory levels and if it depended on habitat type (interior or edges). Seedlings of Inga laurina were set in 200-m long transects (which covered both the west and east edges, and the interior) in an urban park and then experimentally assigned to be either ant-present or ant-excluded plants. Leaf herbivory was investigated throughout the wet season and was influenced by the interaction effect between ants and habitat type. Ants decreased the herbivory on the west edge, but on the east edge results were the opposite. The east edge had higher temperature and sunlight exposure in comparison to the other sites and was assumed to disrupt the stability of ant–plant interactions. In the interior of the fragment, herbivory depended on ant presence/absence and on the location of plants along the transect. Our study highlights how the outcomes of ant–plant interactions are spatially conditioned and affected by different types of habitats.

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Plant species with larger extrafloral nectaries produce better quality nectar when needed and interact with the best ant partners

Alencar

Nogueira

Vicente

et al. 2023

Journal of Experimental Botany

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Few studies have explored the phenotypic plasticity of nectar production on plant attractiveness to ants. Here, we investigate the role of EFN size on the productivity of extrafloral nectar in three sympatric legume species. We hypothesised that plant species with larger EFNs i) have higher induced nectar secretion after herbivory events, and ii) are more likely to interact with more protective, i.e., dominant, ant partners. We target 90 plants of three Chamaecrista species in the field. We estimated EFN size and conducted field experiments to evaluate any differences in nectar traits before and after leaf damage to investigate the phenotypic plasticity of nectar production across species. We censused ant species feeding on EFNs over time. Plant species increased nectar descriptors after leaf damage, but in different ways. Supporting our hypothesis, C. duckeana, with the largest EFN size, increased all nectar descriptors, with most intense post-herbivory induced response, taking its place as the most attractive to ants, including dominant species. EFN size variation was an excellent indicator of nectar productivity across species. The higher control over reward production in plants with larger-sized EFNs reflects an induction mechanism under damage that reduces costs and increases the potential benefits of indirect biotic defences.

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Production of extrafloral nectar in the Neotropical shrub Turnera subulata mediated by biotic and abiotic factors

Cited by 3 publications

References 41 publications

Fabaceae and Cerrado savanna: Two descriptors of Brazilian extrafloral nectary plants

Fabaceae and Cerrado savanna: Two descriptors of Brazilian extrafloral nectary plants

Effect of ants on herbivory levels ofInga laurina: the interplay between space and time in an urban area

Plant species with larger extrafloral nectaries produce better quality nectar when needed and interact with the best ant partners

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