Senescent stem-galls in trees of Eremanthus erythropappus as a resource for arboreal ants

Almeida, Maria Fernanda Brito de; Santos, Leonardo Rodrigues dos; Carneiro, Marco Antônio Alves

doi:10.1590/s0085-56262014000300007

Cited by 22 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…and Solenopsis sp. ), were not found in candeia galls by Almeida et al, (2014). So, the present work records, for the first time, these four morphospecies occupying galls on candeia trees, thus increasing the list presented in Almeida et al (2014), from eight to twelve species.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 51%

“…All senescent stem galls were collected and immediately deposited in a plastic bag specific for each plant. Once in the laboratory, the galls were measured using a digital caliper (error: ± 0.01mm) to determine largest diameter, smallest diameter and height, and to calculate the volume of globular (V = 4/3 πr³) and fusiform (V = r²hπ) galls according to the method described by Almeida et al (2014). In addition, all galls were opened to verify if ant colonies were present or not.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Galls are vegetable tumors induced by insects or other organisms; they are free of chemical compounds, rich in nutrients and provide a location for the larvae of gallers to develop (Mani 1964;Price et al, 1987;DregerJauffret & Shorthouse, 1992;Raman et al, 2005;Fernandes & Santos 2014). Stem-galls persist on the plant and, after being abandoned by the inductor (= senescent galls), can be colonized by different organisms such as spiders, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and, mainly, ants (Longino & Wheeler, 1987Craig et al, 1991;Almeida et al, 2014). Due to the capacity of larvae to manipulate and modify their host plants, creating "new habitats" for other organisms, gall insects can be considered ecosystem engineers (Jones et al, 1994(Jones et al, , 1997Wright & Jones 2006).…”

Section: Research Article -Antsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, Almeida et al (2014) found eight ant species occupying senescent galls of candeia trees and suggested that the presence of senescent galls, an abundant resource, can increase the diversity of ant assemblages in the canopy of candeia trees. Therefore, this work aims at expanding the knowledge about ants associated with candeia galls on a regional scale, by describing the ant communities found in the canopies of candeia trees, including the species that use galls as nesting sites.…”

Section: Research Article -Antsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other important resources provided by plants to ants are nesting sites and shelter, such as domatias or cavities produced by the activity of endophytic insects (Oliveira & Freitas, 2004;Schoereder et al, 2010;Nascimento et al, 2012;Almeida et al, 2014). Therefore, the supply of food resources and places for shelter and nesting are both determining factors for the establishment and survival of arboreal ants on trees (Oliveira & Freitas, 2004).…”

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confidence: 99%

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The role of Senescent Stem-Galls over Arboreal Ant Communities Structure in Eremanthus erythropappus (DC.) MacLeish (Asteraceae) Trees

2017

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The extensive occupation of canopy trees by ants can be attributed to many factors, such as the presence of structures that provide food and shelter. Structures induced by other insects in host plants, like senescent galls, can provide shelter and a nesting place for many species of ants. The main objectives of this work were: (1) to describe the ant communities found in canopies of candeia trees (Eremanthus erythropappus), including the species which use galls as nesting sites; (2) verify the role of galls in determining the structure and composition of the ant communities and (3) to evaluate whether the size and shape of galls are important to the choice of nesting sites by ants. Specifically, the following questions were investigated: 1 – Are larger galls more frequently occupied by ants than smaller galls? 2 – Does gall shape (globular and fusiform) influence occupation? 3 – Which species of ants are present in the canopies of candeias and which are occupying galls? Senescent galls were collected in locations in the southern portion of the Espinhaço Mountain Range, state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. In total, 3,195 galls were collected and 19 ant species were recorded. Only 176 galls (5.5%) had been occupied by ants, and these were represented by 11 species. The most frequent species found occupying galls were Myrmelachista nodigera, with 48 colonies; Nesomyrmex spininodis, with 37 colonies; and Crematogaster complex crinosa sp. 1, with 29 colonies. The ants occupied galls with greater volume and diameter. Even considering the low occupation frequency, senescent galls in E. erythropappus are used by ants, either as outstations or satellite nests of polydomic colonies, and may be important in determining ant species composition in canopy trees.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 51%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Research Article -Antsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Research Article -Antsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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The role of Senescent Stem-Galls over Arboreal Ant Communities Structure in Eremanthus erythropappus (DC.) MacLeish (Asteraceae) Trees

2017

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Arthropod facilitation mediated by abandoned dead domatia

et al. 2021

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In ant-plant mutualistic interactions, plants provide shelter (domatia) and/or food to ants and in exchange, and ants provide protection against herbivores. After plant tissue senescence, ants are expected to abandon dead domatia, leaving these empty spaces available for other arthropods. In this study, we tested for the role of the mutualistic interaction between Cordia alliodora and Azteca pittieri in promoting new habitats for arthropods through abandoned dead domatia. We predicted that species richness, abundance, and colonization frequency of secondary arthropods would be greater in dead branch domatia (dead domatia) compared with live branch domatia (live domatia). During March 2019, we selected 38 C. alliodora trees in a Mexican tropical dry forest. For each tree, we collected five live and five dead domatia, for 380 domatia in total. We found six morphospecies of secondary arthropods colonizing live domatia, while 42 were present in dead domatia. Ants were the most species-rich group (10 species) in abandoned dead domatia and utilized them as nesting sites (25 nests). Secondary arthropod species richness, abundance, and colonization frequency were greater in dead domatia compared with live domatia. We concluded that the Azteca-Cordia mutualistic interaction is an important habitat facilitator by promoting new habitats for arthropods through abandoned dead domatia.

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Ecosystem Engineering by Insect Herbivores: Non-trophic Interactions in Terrestrial Ecosystems

Calderón-Cortés

2020

Evolutionary Ecology of Plant-Herbivore Interaction

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Senescent stem-galls in trees of Eremanthus erythropappus as a resource for arboreal ants

Cited by 22 publications

References 34 publications

The role of Senescent Stem-Galls over Arboreal Ant Communities Structure in Eremanthus erythropappus (DC.) MacLeish (Asteraceae) Trees

The role of Senescent Stem-Galls over Arboreal Ant Communities Structure in Eremanthus erythropappus (DC.) MacLeish (Asteraceae) Trees

Arthropod facilitation mediated by abandoned dead domatia

Ecosystem Engineering by Insect Herbivores: Non-trophic Interactions in Terrestrial Ecosystems

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