Exploitation of Fallen Diaspores by Ants: Are there Ant–Plant Partner Choices?

Christianini, Alexander V.; Mayhé-Nunes, Antônio José; Oliveira, Paulo S.

doi:10.1111/j.1744-7429.2011.00822.x

Cited by 43 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 53 publications

(132 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Moreover, the spectrum of ant genera recorded at synthetic fruits is analogous to other Neotropical studies on the ant fauna interacting with fleshy diaspores of local floras [33], [43], [44], [45], [60], as well as to more general studies on Neotropical ground-dwelling ant communities [61], [62]. For instance, the genera Pheidole and Solenopsis , which are frequently recorded interacting with fleshy fruits (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

Assessing the Impact of Deforestation of the Atlantic Rainforest on Ant-Fruit Interactions: A Field Experiment Using Synthetic Fruits

et al. 2014

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Ants frequently interact with fleshy fruits on the ground of tropical forests. This interaction is regarded as mutualistic because seeds benefit from enhanced germination and dispersal to nutrient-rich microsites, whereas ants benefit from consuming the nutritious pulp/aril. Considering that the process of deforestation affects many attributes of the ecosystem such as species abundance and composition, and interspecific interactions, we asked whether the interaction between ants and fallen fleshy fruits in the Brazilian Atlantic forest differs between human-created fragments and undisturbed forests. We controlled diaspore type and quantity by using synthetic fruits (a plastic ‘seed’ covered by a lipid-rich ‘pulp’), which were comparable to lipid-rich fruits. Eight independent areas (four undisturbed forests, and four disturbed forest fragments) were used in the field experiment, in which we recorded the attracted ant species, ant behaviour, and fruit removal distance. Fruits in undisturbed forest sites attracted a higher number of species than those in disturbed forests. Moreover, the occurrence of large, fruit-carrying ponerine ants (Pachycondyla, Odontomachus; 1.1 to 1.4 cm) was higher in undisturbed forests. Large species (≥3 mm) of Pheidole (Myrmicinae), also able to remove fruits, did not differ between forest types. Following these changes in species occurrence, fruit displacement was more frequent in undisturbed than in disturbed forests. Moreover, displacement distances were also greater in the undisturbed forests. Our data suggest that fallen fleshy fruits interacting with ants face different fates depending on the conservation status of the forest. Together with the severe loss of their primary dispersers in human-disturbed tropical forest sites, vertebrate-dispersed fruits may also be deprived of potential ant-derived benefits in these habitats due to shifts in the composition of interacting ant species. Our data illustrate the use of synthetic fruits to better understand the ecology of ant-fruit interactions in variable ecological settings, including human-disturbed landscapes.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

Assessing the Impact of Deforestation of the Atlantic Rainforest on Ant-Fruit Interactions: A Field Experiment Using Synthetic Fruits

et al. 2014

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…and Wasmannia auropunctata) dominated the interactions with fruits at edges, accounting for 80 % of the records. In contrast, ant-fruit interactions in the interior of cerrado were more evenly distributed among several ant subfamilies/genera (Table 2) (see Christianini et al 2012 for more details of the ant fauna exploiting diaspores). Large Ponerinae ants (Pachycondyla, Dinoponera, and Odontomachus) accounted for 30 % of the interactions with fruits in the interior of cerrado, against 16 % at the edge.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…This may include many plant species (see Christianini et al 2012). In the long term, we expect a lower recruitment of E. pelleterianum near the edges of fragments and an increase in the recruitment of other species that are more tolerant to the conditions found there.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Edge effects decrease ant-derived benefits to seedlings in a neotropical savanna

Christianini

Oliveira

2012

Arthropod-Plant Interactions

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Edge effects may lead to changes in mutualistic plant-animal interactions, such as seed dispersal, that are critical to plant regeneration. However, research into edge effects is neglected in the Brazilian cerrado, the largest neotropical savanna. We evaluated the consequences of edge effects in the cerrado for the regeneration of Erythroxylum pelleterianum (Erythroxylaceae), a shrub that benefits from seed dispersal by ants. We compared air temperature, relative humidity, and vapor pressure deficit, as well as the frequency and outcome of ant-diaspore interactions between cerrado edges and interiors. The inner portion of cerrado was likely to be moister than its borders, but seed production and germination did not differ between edge and interior of cerrado. Ants removed more seeds near fragment edges than at the interior. However, Myrmicinae ants dominated ant-fruit interactions at edges. These ants are likely to provide few benefits to the seeds. Seedlings of E. pelleterianum growing close to Ponerinae ant nests showed higher survival than seedlings growing away from nests in the interior of cerrado, but such effect disappeared near edges. Widespread seedling mortality due to a higher evaporative demand at edges may partially account for this effect. Furthermore, Ponerinae's nests also showed a lower residence time near edges, decreasing possible benefits derived from ant colony activity such as nutrient enrichment and protection against insect herbivores. Edge effects could change the structure and dynamics of vegetation in cerrado fragments, due in part to the collapse of the mutualistic interactions demonstrated here.

show abstract

“…In the case of seeds, such energy expenditure increase could be offset due to their high protein content (Dussutour & Simpson 2009). Seeds have relatively high nitrogen and protein contents (Chapman 1998, Dussutour & Simpson 2009), which could explain the collection of these relatively rare substrates by almost all ant genera. In dry seasons, more than 50% of the material collected by leaf-cutting ants consists of non-leaf material (stipules, fruits, seeds, and flower parts) (Rockwood 1976, Wirth et al 1997.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Leaf-cutting ants (Atta and Acromyrmex) are known to disperse non-myrmecochorus seeds (without elaiosome) for longer distances than other ant genera (Santo 2007), giving them great status as seed disperser, especially because true myrmecochory is not common in South American ecosystems (Christianini et al 2012). Although leaf-cutting ants preferentially use leaves for fungus garden cultivation, seeds and fruits of several plant species also represent a significant amount of the foraged material (Roberts & Heithaus 1986, Kaspari 1996, Leal & Oliveira 1998.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of Seeds as Fungus Garden Substrate Changes the Organization of Labor Among Leaf-Cutting Ant Workers

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Seeds of different plant species constitute an alternative but also significant substrate that leaf-cutting ants use to cultivate their fungus garden. However, how they are processed inside the nest and if their use implies differential allocation of worker size classes are still poorly known. Using laboratory colonies of Acromyrmex subterraneus (Forel) as a model, the behaviors related to the processing of three different seeds (sesame, guava, and grape) as fungus substrate were listed. At the same time, we measured how each worker size class contributed to the execution of these behaviors by registering their respective frequency. It was found that medium-sized (1.2 > head width < 1.6 mm) and minimum-sized (head width <1.1 mm) workers assumed the role of incorporation for sesame and grape seeds, respectively. Major-sized workers (head width >1.7 mm) were concentrated on licking and holding guava seeds. Tegument removal was the only task observed that differs between treatment of seeds and treatment of leaves before their incorporation, as described in the literature. It was verified that different species of seeds imply a differential allocation of worker size classes and the inclusion or exclusion of some tasks from the behavioral repertoire. Regardless of the substrate type, leaf-cutting ant workers follow a coordinated and specialized procedure to cultivate the fungus garden but always maintain a high degree of cooperation.

show abstract

Exploitation of Fallen Diaspores by Ants: Are there Ant–Plant Partner Choices?

Cited by 43 publications

References 53 publications

Assessing the Impact of Deforestation of the Atlantic Rainforest on Ant-Fruit Interactions: A Field Experiment Using Synthetic Fruits

Assessing the Impact of Deforestation of the Atlantic Rainforest on Ant-Fruit Interactions: A Field Experiment Using Synthetic Fruits

Edge effects decrease ant-derived benefits to seedlings in a neotropical savanna

Use of Seeds as Fungus Garden Substrate Changes the Organization of Labor Among Leaf-Cutting Ant Workers

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About