Different combinations of multiple defence traits in an extrafloral nectary‐bearing plant growing under various habitat conditions

Yamawo, Akira; Tagawa, Jun; Hada, Yoshio; Suzuki, N.

doi:10.1111/1365-2745.12169

Cited by 38 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 90 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…, Yamawo et al . ). Clarifying which factors influence the effect of EFNs is an important starting point for understanding how these ant–herbivore–plant interactions evolved and were maintained, and for identifying their contribution to the structure and functioning of food webs.…”

mentioning

confidence: 97%

Ant Species Identity has a Greater Effect than Fire on the Outcome of an Ant Protection System inBrazilianCerrado

Del‐Claro

Marquis

2015

Biotropica

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Although fire‐ and ant–plant interactions influence the community structure and dynamics of Neotropical savannas, no previous studies have considered their simultaneous effects on target host plants. We monitored the effect of ant exclusion for 3 years on leaf area loss to leaf chewing insects, thrips abundance, and reproductive output of the extrafloral nectary‐bearing shrub, Peixotoa tomentosa (Malpighiaceae). We predicted that the impact of ants on herbivores and plants would depend on the ant species, and that fire would reduce the effect of ants. We deliberately chose control plants that differed in their occupant ant species. Fire occurred in the second year of the study, allowing us to determine its effect on the benefit afforded by ants. Ants reduced leaf area loss and thrips abundance, and increased fruit and seed production in all 3 years. Some ant species were more effective than others, while plants with multiple ant species suffered higher leaf area loss than plants with a single ant species. In the year following the fire, leaf damage was greater than in the other years, regardless of the ant species, and the proportional effect of ants in reducing damage was less. Interactions affecting thrips abundance did not change following fire, nor was the benefit to the plant proportionally reduced. Overall, the identity of the ant species had a greater effect than did the occurrence of fire on the ant–herbivore–plant interaction: the identity of the ant species influenced leaf area loss, thrips numbers, and bud and seed production, while fire only modified the impact of ants on the amount of leaf area consumed by insect herbivores.

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 97%

Ant Species Identity has a Greater Effect than Fire on the Outcome of an Ant Protection System inBrazilianCerrado

Del‐Claro

Marquis

2015

Biotropica

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Several studies have demonstrated that the environment where the plant is growing (whether it is shaded or not, or if the availability of soil nutrients is high or low), is an important determinant of the outcome of the interaction between ants and plants in protective ant–plant mutualisms (Kersch & Fonseca , Abdala & Marquis , Yamawo et al . ). Theoretical and empirical evidence also suggest that whether the interaction between ants and plants is reciprocally beneficial, depends on the plant's developmental stage (Boege & Marquis , Quintero et al .…”

mentioning

confidence: 97%

Plant Ontogeny as a Conditionality Factor in the Protective Effect of Ants on a Neotropical Tree

2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The outcome of any interspecific interaction is often determined by the ecological context in which the interacting species are embedded. Plant ontogeny may represent an important source of variation in the outcome of ant–plant mutualisms, as the level of investment in ant rewards, in alternative (non‐biotic) defenses, or both, may be modulated by the plant's developmental stage. In addition, the abundance and identities of the ants involved in the interaction may change during ontogeny of the host‐plant. Here, we evaluated if plant ontogeny affects the interaction between ants and a savanna tree species (Caryocar brasiliense) that produces extrafloral nectar. We found fewer ants per branch and fewer species of ants per tree in juvenile than in reproductive trees of medium and large size. In addition, large‐sized reproductive trees were more likely to host more aggressive ants than were medium‐sized reproductive or juvenile trees. Such differences strongly affected the outcome of the interaction between ants and their host‐plants, as the magnitude of the effect of ants on herbivory was much stronger for large trees than for juvenile ones. The fact that we did not find significant ontogenetic variation in the concentration of leaf tannins suggests that the observed differences in herbivory did not result from a differential investment in chemical defenses among different‐sized plants. Overall, the results of our study indicate that the developmental stage of the host plant is an important factor of conditionality in the interaction between C. brasiliense and arboreal foraging ants.

show abstract

“…teranishii ants prefer moderate sunlight and low temperatures in environments such as forest edges and forest gaps (Yamawo et al . ). Formica japonica ants are apparently more tolerant of high temperatures than the other three species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Such differences in ant activities provide opportunities for herbivores to feed on M. japonicus because it is typically visited by only one ant species at a time (Yamawo et al . , ). Further studies are needed to clarify the efficacy of indirect defense by each ant species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aggressiveness of ants attracted to the extrafloral nectary‐bearing plant, Mallotus japonicus, and temporal fluctuations in their abundance

Yamawo

Hada

Tagawa

2017

Entomological Science

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Many plants that bear extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) attract various ant species that can exclude herbivores. The aggressiveness of the attracted ants and their temporal activity patterns are important factors that can affect the efficiency of herbivore exclusion from the plant. However, the characteristics of this mutualistic relationship between EFN‐bearing plants and ants have not been sufficiently elucidated. We investigated the aggressiveness of six ant species against the common armyworm, Spodoptera litura Fabr., and temporal fluctuations in the abundance of four aggressive ant species on an EFN‐bearing plant, Mallotus japonicus (L.f.) Müll. Arg. Workers of Crematogaster teranishii Santschi, Pheidole noda Smith, Pristomyrmex punctatus Smith and Formica japonica Motschoulsky were observed to be highly aggressive. In contrast, workers of Camponotus vitiosus Smith showed low aggressiveness. Paratrechina flavipes Smith workers did not attack the herbivore. The activity patterns of the four aggressive ant species greatly differed. Crematogaster teranishii and Ph. noda workers were constantly active throughout the day and night. In contrast, F. japonica was diurnal. Pristomyrmex punctatus was principally nocturnal. Formica japonica workers foraged solitarily, whereas workers of the other three species foraged in a group or recruited nestmates. Our results suggest that the efficacy of the indirect defense in M. japonicus depends principally on the attracted ant species.

show abstract

Different combinations of multiple defence traits in an extrafloral nectary‐bearing plant growing under various habitat conditions

Cited by 38 publications

References 90 publications

Ant Species Identity has a Greater Effect than Fire on the Outcome of an Ant Protection System inBrazilianCerrado

Ant Species Identity has a Greater Effect than Fire on the Outcome of an Ant Protection System inBrazilianCerrado

Plant Ontogeny as a Conditionality Factor in the Protective Effect of Ants on a Neotropical Tree

Aggressiveness of ants attracted to the extrafloral nectary‐bearing plant, Mallotus japonicus, and temporal fluctuations in their abundance

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About