Urea in Weaver Ant Feces: Quantification and Investigation of the Uptake and Translocation of Urea in Coffea arabica

Vidkjær, Nanna Hjort; Wollenweber, Bernd; Jensen, Karl-Martin Vagn; Offenberg, Joachim; Fomsgaard, Inge S.

doi:10.1007/s00344-016-9586-1

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…To our knowledge, foliar uptake of nutrients from ant droplets has not previously been demonstrated. Yet, droplets deposited by O. smaragdina is known to contain nitrogenous compounds such as amino acids and urea (Vidkjær et al., ), and uptake and translocation of pure synthetic urea has been demonstrated in C. arabica leaves (Vidkjær et al., ). Our experimental design did not allow a quantification of the amount of N absorbed by exposed leaves.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, Vidkjær et al. () found that within 11 days, 68%–73% of synthetic urea supplied on leaves was absorbed, and that 4%–10% of this was translocated from absorbing to growing leaves. If uptake rates from ant droplets are similar to pure synthetic urea, or contrarily, are affected by other compounds imbedded in the droplets, warrants further studies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These workers deposit faecal droplets from rectal sac fluids and deposit them throughout their territory (Dejean & Beugnon, ; Offenberg, ), especially on flushing leaves and developing fruits, where ant activity is highest (Hölldobler & Wilson, ; Offenberg, Nielsen, Macintosh, Aksornkoae, & Havanon, ). These faecal droplets contains nutritious compounds such as amino acids and urea (Vidkjær, Wollenweber, Gislum, Jensen, & Fomsgaard, ; Vidkjær et al., ), compounds that are commonly used as foliar fertilisers in agriculture, as they can be absorbed directly by plant leaves (Abad, Lloveras, & Michelena, ; Readman, Kettlewell, & Beckwith, ; Varga & Svečnjak, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Foliar uptake of nitrogen from ant faecal droplets: An overlooked service to ant‐plants

et al. 2017

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Abstract1. Nutrient supplies to plants from ants are well known from specialised myrmecophytic symbioses and from plants growing in soil close to ant nests. However, above-ground nutrient pathways may play a largely unrecognised role also in less specialised ant-plant interactions-the numerous facultative relationships, where ants forage on plants.2. In a laboratory experiment, weaver ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) were confined to the canopies of coffee (Coffea arabica) seedlings, excluding any ant-to-plant transfer of nutrients via the soil strata. When ants were fed 15 N-labelled glycine and subsequently deposited faecal droplets on the seedlings, coffee leaves showed increased levels of 15 N and total nitrogen compared to control plants without ants. This was evident for both exposed leaves and leaves covered in plastic bags (i.e. not directly exposed to ants). Thus, nitrogen from ant excretions was absorbed through the coffee leaves, and subsequently, translocated within the plants and possibly leading to the observed higher shoot/root (wet weight) ratios observed on ant-plants compared to controls.3. Synthesis. These results reveal an undescribed foliar uptake of ant-provided nutrients. If this is a general mechanism, a vast amount of ant-plant interactions involves fertilisation. Foliar fertilisation by ants may be an important steady benefit to plants, which has driven the evolution of ant-plant mutualisms in parallel with the well-recognised but probably more fluctuating benefit from herbivore protection. Given the world-wide abundance of plant canopies foraged by ants, this nutrient pathway may be of high ecological significance. K E Y W O R D S 15N uptake, ant faecal droplets, ant-plant interaction, Coffea arabica, foliar fertilisation, nitrogen, Oecophylla smaragdina | INTRODUCTIONAnt-plant mutualisms range from facultative interactions, where plants interact with multiple ant species, to obligate one-to-one interactions, which tend to be species specific (Heil & McKey, 2003). These relationships involve plant-provided resources for ants (nesting space and food), which, in return, defend the plant against herbivory. Recent meta-analyses of ant-plant mutualisms support that ants lead to increased plant fitness (Chamberlain & Holland, 2009;Rosumek et al., 2009;Trager et al., 2010). However, ant-mediated reductions in herbivory do not always fully explain the improvements observed in plant performance, e.g. growth and reproduction (Chamberlain & Holland, 2009;Trager et al., 2010). This suggests that mechanisms other than herbivore protection benefit host plants. Such mechanisms may include nutrient fluxes from ants to plants. | Journal of Ecology PINKALSKI et AL.Transfer of nutrients from ants to plants is known from myrmecophytic plants that provide specialised domatia where ants can nest (Gegenbauer, Mayer, Zotz, & Richter, 2012;Solano & Dejean, 2004;Treseder, Davidson, & Ehleringer, 1995). In myrmecophytes, as much as 80% of plant nitrogen (N) acquisition may derive from ant debris and excretory deposi...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Foliar uptake of nitrogen from ant faecal droplets: An overlooked service to ant‐plants

et al. 2017

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“…Nutrient flow from the ants back to their host plant was inferred when Asian weaver ants (O. smaragdina) were fed 15 N-labeled glycine and the ant's fecal droplets were absorbed on coffee leaves (Coffea arabica). This in turn led to increased levels of total nitrogen and 15 N compared on leaves with than without ants (Pinkalski et al, 2018; see also Pinkalski et al, 2016;Vidkjaer et al, 2016). These direct nutrient exchanges from ants to their host plant are suspected to play a role in improving plant health (Pinkalski et al, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Weaver Ants Provide Ecosystem Services to Tropical Tree Crops

2019

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Generalist predators bring a complex mix of beneficial and harmful effects to agroecosystems. When these predators feed on herbivorous pests, biological control is improved with the potential to increase crop yield. However, generalists often feed on predators, pollinators, and plants, which might worsen pest outbreaks and reduce fruit set. For example, weaver ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) are major predators of several key, economically-damaging pest insects of tropical fruit and nut crops. Yet the ants also attack other predatory arthropods and important pollinators, while tending trophobiont honeydew producers like mealybugs (Pseudococcidae) that are themselves pests. Finally, ants will supplement their diet with sugars from floral and extrafloral nectaries, a form of plant feeding that presumably carries a physiological cost to the plant. Here, across previously-published experimental studies that compared treatments where ants were present vs. excluded, we summarize the effects of weaver ants on beneficial and pest insects and tree-crop productivity. Our quantitative review revealed nearly ubiquitous benefits of Oecophylla ants for tropical agriculture. Treatments with ants present generally showed lower pest densities and damage from pest insects in the families Coreidae, Miridae, Pentatomidae, and Tephritidae. Pest reduction was seen on cacao (Theobroma cacao), cashew (Anacardium occidentale), and mango (Mangifera indica) trees. The single exception to these pest reductions occurred when ants facilitated the population growth of mealybugs and other honeydew producers. In general, we found that Oecophylla ants provided the valuable ecosystem service of natural pest control to a diversity of tropical tree crops. Despite the potential for the ants to harm other predators or pollinators, evidence for these ecosystem disservices was rare and other beneficial insects co-exist well with this group of ants. Our findings bolster the general finding that ant species that tend herbivores who are not themselves pests can provide broad-reaching benefits to plant productivity. More generally, our findings are consistent with the many cases where non-pest prey bolster densities of polyphagous predators with benefits for biological control despite some degree of plant feeding by the predators.

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“…They occupy microhabitats such as low vegetation, litters, sieved litter as ground hunters or strays individuals [32]. They provide organic nutrients to the host trees by excreting large quantities of faeces matter on the foliage tops [33,34]. Table 1 shows O. smaragdina presence in diverse environments range, tropical forests and large plantations such as oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) [13,14] and other crops such as cashew nuts (Anacardium occidentale), mango (Mangifera indica) [37], rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) [38], sweet orange (Citrus sinensis), pomelo (C. grandis or C. maxima), or lime (C. aurantifolia) [39].…”

Section: Origin Behaviors and Habitatsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review on Distribution Pattern, Nesting Style, Mating Behavior, Colony Organization of Asian weaver ant <em>Oecophylla smaragdina</em> (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Occupying Strategic Biome-agroforestry Systems of Asia

Exélis¹,

Ramli²

2022

Preprint

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This review discusses the distribution pattern, nesting style, mating behavior, and colony structure of the Asian weaver ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) in Asia. Recent findings suggested that weaver ant occurrences are not only limited to tropical rainforests biome, agroforestry and large monoculture fields, but have encroached human rural habitation including densely populated urban areas. Comparatively, O. longinoda and O. smaragdina are taxonomically classified as two distinct species, but the main differences between them are strongly dependent on the allopatric nature or geographical speciation of their distribution. Although weaver ants are dominant ubiquitous and conspicuous arboreal insects with a predilection for habitation in trees canopies, viable nests colonies on the ground have been reported in Thailand. O. smaragdina usually construct their polydomous nests (multiple satellites nests arrangement within a single host but diverse plants species) by weaving tree-leaves using their larval silk. Knowledge on mating behavior is rudimentary; hence more studies are needed especially in understanding how weather parameters affect nuptial flight swarming act. At the colony organization level, comprehensive reports about minor and major workers contrasts with the poorly documented but significant intermediate size of workers caste. The versatile impact of Asian Oecophylla is offering important ecological subsistence services to both the nature and humans. This is by combining positive economic implications to food security concern with a provision of organic nutrients for host plants and highly healthful diet enhancer (nourishing-medicinal). Despite its wide presence in large oil palms monoculture, only one report had exposed weaver ants’ potential positive ecological impact (i.e. predation on bagworms Pteroma pendula) in Southeast Asia.

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Urea in Weaver Ant Feces: Quantification and Investigation of the Uptake and Translocation of Urea in Coffea arabica

Cited by 8 publications

References 39 publications

Foliar uptake of nitrogen from ant faecal droplets: An overlooked service to ant‐plants

Foliar uptake of nitrogen from ant faecal droplets: An overlooked service to ant‐plants

Weaver Ants Provide Ecosystem Services to Tropical Tree Crops

A Review on Distribution Pattern, Nesting Style, Mating Behavior, Colony Organization of Asian weaver ant <em>Oecophylla smaragdina</em> (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Occupying Strategic Biome-agroforestry Systems of Asia

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