1
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Jorge JS, Santos RL, de Sena Monte O, Freire EMX, Caliman A. The Arrow Macambira (Encholirium spectabile: Bromeliaceae) as an Important Habitat for the Arthropod Fauna in Rocky Outcrops of the Brazilian Semi-Arid Region. NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2024; 53:568-577. [PMID: 38687426 DOI: 10.1007/s13744-024-01145-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Bromeliads play a vital role in preserving biodiversity in the Neotropical region. To understand their impact on arthropod diversity in Brazil's semi-arid region, we studied the rupicolous bromeliad Encholirium spectabile. From 2011 to 2018, we observed the arthropod fauna in E. spectabile clumps, documenting the associated taxa, their abundance, and interactions. We also investigated how seasonality affects arthropod richness and composition during the dry and rainy seasons. Over the observation period, 15 orders and 57 arthropod families were recorded in association with E. spectabile. Insecta dominated, followed by predatory chelicerates. Eight usage categories were identified, with Shelter being the most prevalent, followed by Predators, Nesters, and Nectarivores. Significant differences in taxonomic richness were noted between rainy and dry seasons, with the rainy season exhibiting higher diversity. Seasonal variation was also observed in species composition. Clumps of E. spectabile emerged as crucial habitats for surrounding arthropod fauna. This research underscores the importance of non-phylotelm bromeliads, particularly in high abiotic stress environments like semi-arid regions. The taxonomic diversity observed aligns with findings from diverse environments, shedding light on the relevance of E. spectabile for associated arthropod fauna. These results prompt further exploration of non-phylotelm bromeliads in semi-arid settings, providing a fresh perspective on their significance in shaping arthropod communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaqueiuto S Jorge
- Departament of Ecology, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
- Postgraduate Program in Ecology, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil.
| | - Roberto Lima Santos
- Departament of Botanic and Zoology, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil
| | - Otávio de Sena Monte
- Departament of Ecology, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Eliza Maria X Freire
- Departament of Botanic and Zoology, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil
| | - Adriano Caliman
- Departament of Ecology, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Norte, Natal, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Ecology, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil
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2
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Leal LC, Koski MH. Linking pollen limitation and seed dispersal effectiveness. Ecol Lett 2024; 27:e14347. [PMID: 38073068 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Seed production and dispersal are crucial ecological processes impacting plant demography, species distributions and community assembly. Plant-animal interactions commonly mediate both seed production and seed dispersal, but current research often examines pollination and seed dispersal separately, which hinders our understanding of how pollination services affect downstream dispersal services. To fill this gap, we propose a conceptual framework exploring how pollen limitation can impact the effectiveness of seed dispersal for endozoochorous and myrmecochorous plant species. We summarize the quantitative and qualitative effects of pollen limitation on plant reproduction and use Optimal Foraging Theory to predict its impact on the foraging behaviour of seed dispersers. In doing so, we offer a new framework that poses numerous hypotheses and empirical tests to investigate links between pollen limitation and seed dispersal effectiveness and, consequently, post-dispersal ecological processes occurring at different levels of biological organization. Finally, considering the importance of pollination and seed dispersal outcomes to plant eco-evolutionary dynamics, we discussed the implications of our framework for future studies exploring the demographic and evolutionary impacts of pollen limitation for animal-dispersed plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura C Leal
- Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - Matthew H Koski
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
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3
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Pol RG, Lázaro-González A, Rodrigo A, Arnan X. Similar seed preferences explain trophic ecology of functionally distinct, but co-occurring and closely related harvester ants. Oecologia 2023; 203:407-420. [PMID: 37973656 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05475-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
To understand how food resource use and partitioning by closely related species allows local coexistence, it is key to determine whether a species' diet reflects food availability or food preferences. Here, we analysed the diets, seed selection, and seed preferences of three closely related harvester ants: Messor barbarus, M. bouvieri, and M. capitatus. Sympatric within a Mediterranean shrubland, these species differ in foraging behaviour and worker polymorphism. For 2 years, we studied the ants' diets and seed selection patterns as well as the local availability of seeds. Additionally, we performed a seed-choice experiment using a paired comparison design, offering the ants seeds from eight native plant species. The three ant species had the same general diet, which was primarily granivorous. Although they all consumed a wide variety of seeds, they mostly selected seeds from a small subset of plant species. Despite their morphological and behavioural differences, the ants displayed similar seed preferences that were highly consistent with their diets and seed selection patterns. Our results support the idea that the trophic ecology of these three harvester ants is driven by similar seed preferences rather than by their morphological and behavioural differences. Seed diversity and abundance were high near the ants' nests, suggesting that seed availability is not limiting and could in fact favour local species coexistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo G Pol
- Desert Community Ecology Research Team (Ecodes), IADIZA-CONICET, 5500, Mendoza, Argentina.
- FCEN, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina.
| | - Alba Lázaro-González
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain
- INRAE, University of Bordeaux, BIOGECO, 33610, Cestas, France
| | - Anselm Rodrigo
- CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Catalunya, Spain
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain
| | - Xavier Arnan
- CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Catalunya, Spain
- Universidade de Pernambuco, Campus Garanhuns, Garanhuns, 55294-902, Brazil
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4
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Cramer JF, Miller ET, Ko MC, Liang Q, Cockburn G, Nakagita T, Cardinale M, Fusani L, Toda Y, Baldwin MW. A single residue confers selective loss of sugar sensing in wrynecks. Curr Biol 2022; 32:4270-4278.e5. [PMID: 35985327 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.07.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Sensory receptors evolve, and changes to their response profiles can directly impact sensory perception and affect diverse behaviors, from mate choice to foraging decisions.1-3 Although receptor sensitivities can be highly contingent on changes occurring early in a lineage's evolutionary history,4 subsequent shifts in a species' behavior and ecology may exert selective pressure to modify and even reverse sensory receptor capabilities.5-7 Neither the extent to which sensory reversion occurs nor the mechanisms underlying such shifts is well understood. Using receptor profiling and behavioral tests, we uncover both an early gain and an unexpected subsequent loss of sugar sensing in woodpeckers, a primarily insectivorous family of landbirds.8,9 Our analyses show that, similar to hummingbirds10 and songbirds,4 the ancestors of woodpeckers repurposed their T1R1-T1R3 savory receptor to detect sugars. Importantly, whereas woodpeckers seem to have broadly retained this ability, our experiments demonstrate that wrynecks (an enigmatic ant-eating group sister to all other woodpeckers) selectively lost sugar sensing through a novel mechanism involving a single amino acid change in the T1R3 transmembrane domain. The identification of this molecular microswitch responsible for a sensory shift in taste receptors provides an example of the molecular basis of a sensory reversion in vertebrates and offers novel insights into structure-function relationships during sensory receptor evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia F Cramer
- Evolution of Sensory Systems Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Eliot T Miller
- Macaulay Library, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Meng-Ching Ko
- Evolution of Sensory Systems Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Qiaoyi Liang
- Evolution of Sensory Systems Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Glenn Cockburn
- Evolution of Sensory Systems Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Tomoya Nakagita
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, School of Agriculture, Meiji University, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 214-8571, Japan; Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan
| | - Massimiliano Cardinale
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Marine Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 453 30 Lysekil, Sweden
| | - Leonida Fusani
- Austrian Ornithological Centre, Konrad-Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1160 Wien, Austria; Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, 1160 Wien, Austria
| | - Yasuka Toda
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, School of Agriculture, Meiji University, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 214-8571, Japan
| | - Maude W Baldwin
- Evolution of Sensory Systems Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany.
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5
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Are seed-dispersing ants elaiosome-limited? An experimental test in a Connecticut forest dominated by myrmecochorous plants. FOOD WEBS 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2022.e00242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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6
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Abandoned Wood Ant Nests as Sites for Seedling Germination. FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13050764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We compared the species composition of seedlings germinated on ten recently abandoned Formica polyctena nests with the plant species on active nests and the plant species composition of the forest floor around the nests. Compared to no plants at all, when the nests were inhabited, seedlings of 12 different vascular plant species germinated on the nests after their abandonment. Four of them were myrmecochorous, of which two occurred only on the nests. After abandonment, ant activity ceases, the water content of the nests increases, and decomposition of the organic nest material is accelerated, resulting in faster nutrient mineralization. Consequently, more nutrients are available for plants. Our results suggest that abandoned nests can serve as “regeneration niches”, ensuring genetic diversity, especially in plant populations which rely mainly on vegetative propagation. However, more research on a larger scale is needed to assess the role of wood ants and their abandoned nests in forest vegetation development.
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7
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Warren II RJ, Guiguet A, Mokadam C, Tooker J, Deans A. Oak galls exhibit ant-dispersal convergent with myrmecochorous seeds. Am Nat 2022; 200:292-301. [DOI: 10.1086/720283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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8
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Trusov NA. Arils of Dried Fruits and Their Relationship with Dissemination. CONTEMP PROBL ECOL+ 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s1995425521060123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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9
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Carvalheiro LG, Bartomeus I, Rollin O, Timóteo S, Tinoco CF. The role of soils on pollination and seed dispersal. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20200171. [PMID: 34365822 PMCID: PMC8349634 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Ongoing environmental changes are affecting physical, chemical and biological soil components. Evidence of impacts of soil changes on pollinators' and seed dispersers' behaviour, fitness and density is scarce, but growing. Here, we reviewed information on such impacts and on a number of mechanisms that may explain its propagation, taking into account the full range of resources required by the large and diverse number of species of these two important functional groups. We show that while there is substantial evidence on the effects of soil nitrogen enrichment and changes in soil water content on the quality and quantity of floral and fruit resources, little is known on the effects of changes of other soil properties (e.g. soil pH, soil structure, other nutrients). Also, the few studies showing correlations between soil changes and pollinator and seed disperser foraging behaviour or fitness do not clearly identify the mechanisms that explain such correlation. Finally, most studies (including those with nitrogen and water) are local and limited to a small number of species, and it remains unclear how variable such effects are across time and geographical regions, and the strength of interactive effects between soil properties. Increasing research on this topic, taking into consideration how impacts propagate through species interaction networks, will provide essential information to predict impacts of ongoing environmental changes and help guide conservation plans that aim to minimize impacts on ecosystem functioning. This article is part of the theme issue 'The role of soils in delivering Nature's Contributions to People'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luísa G. Carvalheiro
- Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, 74001-970 Goiânia, Brasil
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | | | - Orianne Rollin
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sérgio Timóteo
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Carla Faleiro Tinoco
- Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, 74001-970 Goiânia, Brasil
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10
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Yamada M, Hojo MK, Imamura A. Odor of achlorophyllous plants' seeds drives seed-dispersing ants. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:9308-9317. [PMID: 34306623 PMCID: PMC8293788 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Seed dispersal by ants is an important means of migration for plants. Many myrmecochorous plants have specialized appendages in their seeds called elaiosome, which provides nutritional rewards for ants, and enable effective seed dispersal. However, some nonmyrmecochorous seeds without elaiosomes are also dispersed by ant species, suggesting the additional mechanisms other than elaiosomes for seed dispersal by ants. The seeds of the achlorophyllous and myco-heterotrophic herbaceous plant Monotropastrum humile are very small without elaiosomes; we investigated whether odor of the seeds could mediate seed dispersal by ants. We performed a bioassay using seeds of M. humile and the ant Nylanderia flavipes to demonstrate ant-mediated seed dispersal. We also analyzed the volatile odors emitted from M. humile seeds and conducted bioassays using dummy seeds coated with seed volatiles. Although elaiosomes were absent from the M. humile seeds, the ants carried the seeds to their nests. They also carried the dummy seeds coated with the seed volatile mixture to the nest and left some dummy seeds inside the nest and discarded the rest of the dummy seeds outside the nest with a bias toward specific locations, which might be conducive to germination. We concluded that, in M. humile seeds, volatile odor mixtures were sufficient to induce seed-carrying behavior by the ants even without elaiosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Masaru K. Hojo
- Department of BioscienceSchool of Science and TechnologyKwansei Gakuin UniversitySandaJapan
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11
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O'Hanlon JC, Jones BR, Bulbert MW. The dynamic eggs of the Phasmatodea and their apparent convergence with plants. Naturwissenschaften 2020; 107:34. [PMID: 32737596 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-020-01690-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The egg stages of animal life cycles are underappreciated in terms of their capacity for dispersal, protection, and biotic and abiotic interactions. Some of the most intriguing egg morphologies are seen in stick and leaf insects (Phasmatodea). Phasmids are charismatic insects, particularly due to their incredible camouflage, though a lesser-known fact is that their eggs are incredibly diverse in shape and structure, reflecting varying ecological niches. Perhaps most remarkable are those eggs which appear to resemble plant seeds in both their appearance and means of dispersal, such as via water and animal vectors. Numerous hypotheses surrounding the function of these egg morphologies and their apparent convergence with seeds have been proposed; however, empirical evidence remains lacking. Here, we present an initial synthesis of available evidence surrounding the ecology and dispersal strategies of phasmid eggs and weigh up the evidence for convergent evolution between phasmid eggs and seeds. In doing so, we highlight areas where further research is needed and discuss how the ecology of phasmid eggs may interplay with other aspects of phasmid ecology, distribution, and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- James C O'Hanlon
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, 2350, Australia.
| | - Braxton R Jones
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Balaclava Road, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Matthew W Bulbert
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Balaclava Road, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
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12
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Kaspari M. The seventh macronutrient: how sodium shortfall ramifies through populations, food webs and ecosystems. Ecol Lett 2020; 23:1153-1168. [PMID: 32380580 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Of the 25 elements required to build most organisms, sodium has a unique set of characteristics that ramify through terrestrial ecology. In plants, sodium is found in low concentrations and has little metabolic function; in plant consumers, particularly animals, sodium is essential to running costly Na-K ATPases. Here I synthesise a diverse literature from physiology, agronomy and ecology, towards identifying sodium's place as the '7th macronutrient', one whose shortfall targets two trophic levels - herbivores and detritivores. I propose that sodium also plays a central, though unheralded role in herbivore digestion, via its importance to maintaining microbiomes and denaturing tannins. I highlight how sodium availability is a key determinant of consumer abundance and the geography of herbivory and detritivory. And I propose a re-appraisal of the assumption that, because sodium is metabolically unimportant to most plants, it is of little use. Instead, I suggest that sodium's critical role in limiting herbivore performance makes it a commodity used by plants to manipulate their herbivores and mutualists, and by consumers like bison and elephants to generate grazing lawns: dependable sources of sodium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Kaspari
- Geographical Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
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13
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Anjos DV, Leal LC, Jordano P, Del‐Claro K. Ants as diaspore removers of non‐myrmecochorous plants: a meta‐analysis. OIKOS 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.06940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Diego V. Anjos
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, EDB‐CSIC ES‐41092 Sevilla Spain
- Programa de Pós‐graduação em Entomologia, Univ. de São Paulo Ribeirão Preto SP Brazil
| | - Laura C. Leal
- Depto de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva, Univ. Federal de São Paulo Diadema SP Brazil
| | - Pedro Jordano
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, EDB‐CSIC ES‐41092 Sevilla Spain
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14
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Wehner K, Schäfer L, Blüthgen N, Mody K. Seed type, habitat and time of day influence post-dispersal seed removal in temperate ecosystems. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8769. [PMID: 32206451 PMCID: PMC7075361 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Seed survival is of great importance for the performance of plant species and it is strongly affected by post-dispersal seed removal by either different animals such as granivorous species and secondary dispersers or abiotic conditions such as wind or water. The success of post-dispersal seed removal depends on seed specific traits including seed size, the presence of coats or elaiosomes, the mode of seed dispersion, and on the habitat in which seeds happen to arrive. In the present study we asked how seed traits (dehulled vs. intact; size; dispersal mode), habitat (forest vs. grassland), and time of day (night vs. day) influence post-dispersal seed removal of the four plant species Chelidonium majus, Lotus corniculatus, Tragopogon pratensis and Helianthus annuus. Seed removal experiments were performed in three regions in Hesse, Germany. The results showed different, inconsistent influences of time of day, depending on habitat and region, but consistent variation across seed types. C. majus and dehulled H. annuus seeds had the fastest removal rates. The impact of the habitat on post-dispersal seed removal was very low, only intact H. annuus seeds were removed at significantly higher rates in grasslands than in forests. Our study demonstrates consistent differences across seed types across different habitats and time: smaller seeds and those dispersed by animals had a faster removal rate. It further highlights that experimental studies need to consider seeds in their natural form to be most realistic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Wehner
- Ecological Networks, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Lea Schäfer
- Ecological Networks, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Nico Blüthgen
- Ecological Networks, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Karsten Mody
- Ecological Networks, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
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15
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Miller CN, Whitehead SR, Kwit C. Effects of seed morphology and elaiosome chemical composition on attractiveness of five Trillium species to seed-dispersing ants. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:2860-2873. [PMID: 32211161 PMCID: PMC7083703 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Morphological and chemical attributes of diaspores in myrmecochorous plants have been shown to affect seed dispersal by ants, but the relative importance of these attributes in determining seed attractiveness and dispersal success is poorly understood. We explored whether differences in diaspore morphology, elaiosome fatty acids, or elaiosome phytochemical profiles explain the differential attractiveness of five species in the genus Trillium to eastern North American forest ants. Species were ranked from least to most attractive based on empirically-derived seed dispersal probabilities in our study system, and we compared diaspore traits to test our hypotheses that more attractive species will have larger diaspores, greater concentrations of elaiosome fatty acids, and distinct elaiosome phytochemistry compared to the less attractive species. Diaspore length, width, mass, and elaiosome length were significantly greater in the more attractive species. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, we found significantly higher concentrations of oleic, linoleic, hexadecenoic, stearic, palmitoleic, and total fatty acids in elaiosomes of the more attractive species. Multivariate assessments revealed that elaiosome phytochemical profiles, identified through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, were more homogeneous for the more attractive species. Random forest classification models (RFCM) identified several elaiosome phytochemicals that differed significantly among species. Random forest regression models revealed that some of the compounds identified by RFCM, including methylhistidine (α-amino acid) and d-glucarate (carbohydrate), were positively related to seed dispersal probabilities, while others, including salicylate (salicylic acid) and citrulline (L-α-amino acid), were negatively related. These results supported our hypotheses that the more attractive species of Trillium-which are geographically widespread compared to their less attractive, endemic congeners-are characterized by larger diaspores, greater concentrations of fatty acids, and distinct elaiosome phytochemistry. Further advances in our understanding of seed dispersal effectiveness in myrmecochorous systems will benefit from a portrayal of dispersal unit chemical and physical traits, and their combined responses to selection pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea N. Miller
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of TennesseeKnoxvilleTNUSA
| | - Susan R. Whitehead
- Department of Biological SciencesVirginia Tech UniversityBlacksburgVAUSA
| | - Charles Kwit
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of TennesseeKnoxvilleTNUSA
- Department of Forestry, Wildlife and FisheriesUniversity of TennesseeKnoxvilleTNUSA
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16
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Schupp EW, Zwolak R, Jones LR, Snell RS, Beckman NG, Aslan C, Cavazos BR, Effiom E, Fricke EC, Montaño-Centellas F, Poulsen J, Razafindratsima OH, Sandor ME, Shea K. Intrinsic and extrinsic drivers of intraspecific variation in seed dispersal are diverse and pervasive. AOB PLANTS 2019; 11:plz067. [PMID: 31857875 PMCID: PMC6914678 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plz067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
There is growing realization that intraspecific variation in seed dispersal can have important ecological and evolutionary consequences. However, we do not have a good understanding of the drivers or causes of intraspecific variation in dispersal, how strong an effect these drivers have, and how widespread they are across dispersal modes. As a first step to developing a better understanding, we present a broad, but not exhaustive, review of what is known about the drivers of intraspecific variation in seed dispersal, and what remains uncertain. We start by decomposing 'drivers of intraspecific variation in seed dispersal' into intrinsic drivers (i.e. variation in traits of individual plants) and extrinsic drivers (i.e. variation in ecological context). For intrinsic traits, we further decompose intraspecific variation into variation among individuals and variation of trait values within individuals. We then review our understanding of the major intrinsic and extrinsic drivers of intraspecific variation in seed dispersal, with an emphasis on variation among individuals. Crop size is the best-supported and best-understood intrinsic driver of variation across dispersal modes; overall, more seeds are dispersed as more seeds are produced, even in cases where per seed dispersal rates decline. Fruit/seed size is the second most widely studied intrinsic driver, and is also relevant to a broad range of seed dispersal modes. Remaining intrinsic drivers are poorly understood, and range from effects that are probably widespread, such as plant height, to drivers that are most likely sporadic, such as fruit or seed colour polymorphism. Primary extrinsic drivers of variation in seed dispersal include local environmental conditions and habitat structure. Finally, we present a selection of outstanding questions as a starting point to advance our understanding of individual variation in seed dispersal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene W Schupp
- Department of Wildland Resources and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | - Rafal Zwolak
- Department of Systematic Zoology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Landon R Jones
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Rebecca S Snell
- Environmental and Plant Biology, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Noelle G Beckman
- Department of Biology and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | - Clare Aslan
- Landscape Conservation Initiative, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Brittany R Cavazos
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Edu Effiom
- REDD & Biodiversity Unit, Cross River State Forestry Commission, Calabar, Nigeria
| | - Evan C Fricke
- National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center, University of Maryland, Annapolis, MD, USA
| | | | - John Poulsen
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Onja H Razafindratsima
- Department of Natural Resource Management, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA
| | - Manette E Sandor
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA
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17
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Invasive ants disperse seeds farther than native ants, affecting the spatial pattern of seedling recruitment and survival. Oecologia 2019; 192:119-132. [PMID: 31720779 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-019-04553-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Mutualists can vary in the quantity and quality of service which they provide to their partners. Variation in seed disperser quality depends on seed-processing traits, dispersal distance, and deposition location, all of which ultimately affect plant fitness. Here, we compared these aspects of seed dispersal quality between a native and an invasive ant species, and examined how they affect competition and plant performance. Using experimental mesocosm communities, we examined how these two ant species affect the spatial pattern of recruitment and establishment for four myrmecochorous plant species, including one invasive species. We measured the locations of dispersed seedlings relative to ant nests, adult plants, and other dispersed seedlings, as well as measured the effects of location on plant performance. The invasive ant, Myrmica rubra, secondarily dispersed seeds farther from its nests, creating a less clumped pattern of seedling recruitment compared to the native ant, Aphaenogaster rudis. Plant species responded differently to dispersal. Invasive seedlings recruited farther from adult plants than native seedlings, and had higher survival the farther they were from conspecifics. In contrast, native plants had higher survival and grew taller when dispersed farther from invasive plants. We show that seed-dispersing ant partners differ in mutualist quality creating differences in dispersal distance and deposition location that affects a plant's competitive environment. Our results reveal the potential for long-term consequences on plant community structure with changing ant partner identity. We emphasize the need to examine dispersal quality in addition to quantity to uncover the importance of partner identity in structuring communities.
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Burge DO, Beck JJ. DISPERSAL OF SPICEBUSH (CALYCANTHUS OCCIDENTALIS, CALYCANTHACEAE) BY YELLOW JACKETS (GENUS VESPULA; HYMENOPTERA: VESPIDAE). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.3120/0024-9637-66.2.41] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - John J. Beck
- Chemistry Research Unit, Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1700 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608
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19
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Sasidharan R, Venkatesan R. Seed Elaiosome Mediates Dispersal by Ants and Impacts Germination in Ricinus communis. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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20
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Wu J, Peng L, Dong S, Xia X, Zhao L. Transcriptome analysis of Chelidonium majus elaiosomes and seeds provide insights into fatty acid biosynthesis. PeerJ 2019; 7:e6871. [PMID: 31110927 PMCID: PMC6501766 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Elaiosomes are specialized fleshy and edible seed appendages dispersed by ants. Lipids are the primary components of elaiosomes. Chelidonium majus is a well-known plant, the seeds of which are dispersed by ants. Previous studies have identified the presence of primary fatty acids in its elaiosomes and seeds. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying fatty acid biosynthesis in elaiosomes remain unknown. Methods In order to gain a comprehensive transcriptional profile of the elaiosomes and seeds of C. majus, and understand the expression patterns of genes associated with fatty acid biosynthesis, four different developmental stages, including the flower-bud (Ch01), flowering (Ch02), young seed (Ch03), and mature seed (Ch04) stages, were chosen to perform whole-transcriptome profiling through the RNA-seq technology (Illumina NGS sequencing). Results A total of 63,064 unigenes were generated from 12 libraries. Of these, 7,323, 258, and 11,540 unigenes were annotated with 25 Cluster of Orthologous Groups, 43 Gene Ontology terms, and 373 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways, respectively. In addition, 322 genes were involved in lipid transport and metabolism, and 508 genes were involved in the lipid metabolism pathways. A total of 41 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in the lipid metabolism pathways were identified, most of which were upregulated in Ch03 compared to Ch02, indicating that fatty acid biosynthesis primarily occurs during the flowering to the young seed stages. Of the DEGs, acyl-ACP thioesterases, acyl carrier protein desaturase (DESA1), and malonyl CoA-ACP transacylase were involved in palmitic acid synthesis; stearoyl-CoA desaturase and DESA1 were involved in oleic acid synthesis, and acyl-lipid omega-6 desaturase was involved in linoleic acid synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayue Wu
- College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Linlin Peng
- College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Shubin Dong
- College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaofei Xia
- Beijing Museum of Natural History, Beijing, China
| | - Liangcheng Zhao
- College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.,Museum of Beijing Forestry University, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
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21
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Zinger E, Gueijman A, Obolski U, Ram Y, Ruby E, Binder M, Yechieli N, Ohad N, Hadany L. Less fit Lamium amplexicaule plants produce more dispersible seeds. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6299. [PMID: 31004098 PMCID: PMC6474898 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42158-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Theory predicts that less fit individuals would disperse more often than fitter ones (Fitness Associated Dispersal, FAD hypothesis). To test this prediction under laboratory conditions, an entire life cycle of Lamium amplexicaule plants and the preferences of its dispersal agent, Messor ebeninus ants, were tracked. Characterization of individual L. amplexicaule plant revealed high variability in spot cover on the surface of the seeds, where less fit plants produce “unspotted seeds” (see Fig. 1 in Introduction). Unspotted L. amplexicaule seeds showed higher variation in germination time and lower germination rate. Moreover, M. ebeninus ants preferably collected these unspotted seeds. Our results show that low fitness L. amplexicaule plants produce seeds with higher potential for dispersal, supporting the FAD hypothesis in a plant-animal system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eyal Zinger
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ariel Gueijman
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Uri Obolski
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,School of Public Health; Porter School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Yoav Ram
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,School of Computer Science, IDC Herzliya, Herzliya, Israel
| | - Eliya Ruby
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Mor Binder
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Nivi Yechieli
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Nir Ohad
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - Lilach Hadany
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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22
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Nelson AS, Carvajal Acosta N, Mooney KA. Plant chemical mediation of ant behavior. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 32:98-103. [PMID: 31113639 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2018.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Ants are ecologically dominant members of terrestrial communities. Ant foraging is often strongly associated with plants and depends upon associative learning of chemicals in the environment. As a result, plant chemicals can affect ant behaviors and, in so doing, have strong multi-trophic indirect effects. Plant chemicals mediate ant behaviors in the contexts of floral visitation, seed dispersal and predation, leaf cutting, interactions with ant-mutualist host plants, interactions with mutualist and prey insects in plant canopies, and plant predation of ants by carnivorous plants. Here, we review what is known about these differing contexts in which plant chemicals influence ant behavior, the mechanisms by which ants are affected by plant chemicals, and future directions within these topics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika S Nelson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California at Irvine, 321 Steinhaus Hall, Irvine, CA 92697, United States; Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, PO Box 319, Crested Butte, CO 81224, United States
| | - Nalleli Carvajal Acosta
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California at Irvine, 321 Steinhaus Hall, Irvine, CA 92697, United States
| | - Kailen A Mooney
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California at Irvine, 321 Steinhaus Hall, Irvine, CA 92697, United States; Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, PO Box 319, Crested Butte, CO 81224, United States.
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23
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Wu J, He J, Peng L, Wang A, Zhao L. The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Chelidonium majus (Papaveraceae). Mitochondrial DNA B Resour 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/23802359.2019.1591238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jiayue Wu
- Laboratory of Systematic Evolution and Biogeography of Woody Plants, College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Jian He
- Laboratory of Systematic Evolution and Biogeography of Woody Plants, College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Linlin Peng
- Laboratory of Systematic Evolution and Biogeography of Woody Plants, College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Ao Wang
- Laboratory of Systematic Evolution and Biogeography of Woody Plants, College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Liangcheng Zhao
- Laboratory of Systematic Evolution and Biogeography of Woody Plants, College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
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24
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Rocha MLC, Cristaldo PF, Cruz JS, Sacramento JJM, Ferreira DV, Araújo APA. Ants Associated with Turnera subulata (Turneraceae): Elaiosome Attraction, Seed Dispersion and Germination. NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2018; 47:750-756. [PMID: 29982978 DOI: 10.1007/s13744-018-0616-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Symbiosis between plants and ants include examples in which the plant provides shelter and/or food for ants that, in turn, act in the defense or in the dispersion of seeds from the host plant. Although traditionally referred as mutualistic, the results of these interactions may vary with the ecological context in which patterns are involved. A range of species have facultative association with Turnera subulata (Turneraceae). Here, using behavioral bioassays, we investigated the effects of the most frequent ant species associated with T. subulata (Brachymyrmex sp.1, Camponotus blandus (Smith), Dorymyrmex sp.1, Crematogaster obscurata Emery, and Solenopsis invicta Buren) in the dispersion of plant host seeds and in the number of seedlings around the associated ant nests. We also evaluated the effects of these ant species in the germination of T. subulata seeds, in the consumption of elaiosome, and in the attractiveness to elaiosome odor. Our results showed that the ant species associated with T. subulata presented variation in the attraction by the odor and in the rate of consumption of the elaiosomes. However, none of the ant species studied contributed significantly to the increase of seed germination and seedling growth. Our results suggest that the consumption of the elaiosome by ant species is not a determinant factor to the success of germination of T. subulata. However, such species could contribute indirectly to seed germination by carrying seeds to sites more fertile to germination. In general, our results help to elucidate the results of ecological interactions involving ants and plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L C Rocha
- Lab de Interações Ecológicas, Depto de Ecologia, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brasil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brasil
| | - P F Cristaldo
- Lab de Interações Ecológicas, Depto de Ecologia, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brasil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agricultura e Biodiversidade, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brasil
| | - J S Cruz
- Lab de Interações Ecológicas, Depto de Ecologia, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brasil
| | - J J M Sacramento
- Lab de Interações Ecológicas, Depto de Ecologia, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brasil
| | - D V Ferreira
- Lab de Interações Ecológicas, Depto de Ecologia, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brasil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brasil
| | - A P A Araújo
- Lab de Interações Ecológicas, Depto de Ecologia, Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brasil.
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25
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Chen G, Wang ZW, Wen P, Wei W, Chen Y, Ai H, Sun WB. Hydrocarbons mediate seed dispersal: a new mechanism of vespicochory. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2018; 220:714-725. [PMID: 29677396 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Vespicochory, seed dispersal by hornets, is an uncommon seed dispersal pattern in angiosperms. To date, this phenomenon has been recorded in only four families. Because of its rarity, the causes and consequences of vespicochory remain unclear. Hence, this seed dispersal syndrome is often regarded as anecdotal. Through field investigations, chemical analyses, electrophysiological tests, identification of chemosensory proteins from the antennae of hornets, and behavioral assays, we investigated whether olfactory and/or visual cues of the diaspores of Stemona tuberosa mediate the behavior of the social hornets and maintain their mutualism. This study demonstrated that the elaiosome of S. tuberosa emits hydrocarbons, which are attractive to hornets. However, these compounds, which induce responses in the antennae of naive hornets, are ubiquitous substances on insect cuticle surfaces. Innate preference and experienced foraging behavior of hornets can increase their seed dispersal efficiency. This is the first example in which hydrocarbons have been identified as a diaspore odour involved in the attraction of hornets. Given that the ubiquity of hornets, and the communication function of hydrocarbons in insects, we predict that this rare seed dispersal mechanism may be an overlooked mechanism of insect-plant mutualism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gao Chen
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Integrative Conservation for Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations, Kunming, 650204, China
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, China
| | - Zheng-Wei Wang
- Chemical Ecology Group of Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Science, Kunming, 650204, China
| | - Ping Wen
- Chemical Ecology Group of Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Science, Kunming, 650204, China
| | - Wei Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Ya Chen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Hui Ai
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Wei-Bang Sun
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Integrative Conservation for Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations, Kunming, 650204, China
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, China
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26
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Tasty rewards for ants: differences in elaiosome and seed metabolite profiles are consistent across species and reflect taxonomic relatedness. Oecologia 2018; 188:753-764. [PMID: 30218325 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-018-4254-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Diaspores of myrmecochorous plants consist of a seed (or fruit) and an attached appendage (elaiosome) which attracts ants. The elaiosome is a food resource for ants, whereas the seed is an energy source for subsequent germination and plant establishment. Although myrmecochory occurs in many phylogenetically unrelated lineages, multiple phylogenetic lineages display similar variation in elaiosome and seed metabolite composition due to convergent evolution. We focused on four families (Amaryllidaceae, Boraginaceae, Papaveraceae and Poaceae) each represented by two species from different genera. Diaspores of three populations per species were sampled and concentrations of 60 metabolites from five groups (amino acids, fatty acids, organic acids, polyols and sugars) were determined for both elaiosomes and seeds. Variability in metabolite composition was decomposed by hierarchical ANOVA and variation partitioning using redundancy analysis (reflecting both species nested within families, crossed with seed vs. elaiosome). Differences in the metabolite composition of elaiosomes and seeds were consistent across multiple phylogenetic origins (with more pronounced differences at the level of individual metabolites than at the level of metabolite groups) and supported the idea of convergent evolution under strong selection pressure. Elaiosomes contained higher amounts of easily digestible metabolites (especially amino acids) than seeds. Fatty acids were not more concentrated in elaiosomes, which contradicts the literal translation of "elaiosome" (= oil body). The differentiation of metabolite composition closely reflected taxonomic relatedness, particularly at the family level. Differences among populations within species were small, so the metabolite composition can thus be considered as a trait with relatively low intraspecific variability.
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27
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Penn HJ, Crist TO. From dispersal to predation: A global synthesis of ant-seed interactions. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:9122-9138. [PMID: 30377488 PMCID: PMC6194306 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Revised: 05/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Ant-seed interactions take several forms, including dispersal, predation, and parasitism, whereby ants consume seed appendages without dispersal of seeds. We hypothesized that these interaction outcomes could be predicted by ant and plant traits and habitat, with outcomes falling along a gradient of cost and benefit to the plant. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a global literature review and classified over 6,000 pairs of ant-seed interactions from 753 studies across six continents. Linear models showed that seed and ant size, habitat, and dispersal syndrome were the most consistent predictors. Predation was less likely than parasitism and seed dispersal among myrmecochorous plants. A classification tree of the predicted outcomes from linear models revealed that dispersal and predation formed distinct categories based on habitat, ant size, and dispersal mode, with parasitism outcomes forming a distinct subgroup of predation based on seed size and shape. Multiple correspondence analysis indicated some combinations of ant genera and plant families were strongly associated with particular outcomes, whereas other ant-seed combinations were much more variable. Taken together, these results demonstrate that ant and plant traits are important overall predictors of potential seed fates in different habitat types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah J. Penn
- Department of EntomologyLouisiana State UniversityBaton RougeLouisiana
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28
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Gammans N, Drummond F, Groden E. Impacts of the Invasive European Red Ant (Myrmica rubra (L.): Hymenoptera; Formicidae) on a Myrmecochorous System in the Northeastern United States. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2018; 47:908-917. [PMID: 29771324 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvy069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the impact of an invasive ant species from Europe, Myrmica rubra (L.), on a myrmecochorous system (seeds dispersed by ants) in its invaded range in North America. We assessed: 1) how M. rubra process the myrmecochorous diapsores (seeds and elaiosome as a single dispersal unit transported by ants) in comparison with native ants; 2) its preference for common native and invasive diaspore species relative to native ants; 3) how far they disperse diaspores in the field; and 4) the diaspore removal rate by invertebrates and vertebrates in infested areas compared to noninvaded sites. Field experiments demonstrated higher diaspore removal rates over a 10-min and 24-h period by M. rubra compared to native ants. M. rubra's diaspore dispersal distance was 40% greater compared to native ants. In two of three laboratory studies and one field study, there was no significant difference between the seed species which M. rubra and native ants selected. Our data suggest no long-term deleterious effects of M. rubra's invasion on diaspore dispersal in the Maine plant community that is comprised of both native and invasive species. This implies that M. rubra benefits from the myrmechorous plant species' diaspores by increasing their dispersal range away from the parent plant and potentially reducing seed predation. However, it is not known whether the fact that the native ant fauna and M. rubra are attracted to the same plant species' diaspores creates a high level of competition between the ants with deleterious effects on the native ant community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Gammans
- Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Beta Centre, Stirling University Innovation Park, Stirling, UK
| | - Frank Drummond
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME
- Cooperative Extension, University of Maine, Orono, ME
| | - Eleanor Groden
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME
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29
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Schiestl FP. Innate Receiver Bias: Its Role in the Ecology and Evolution of Plant–Animal Interactions. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY EVOLUTION AND SYSTEMATICS 2017. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-110316-023039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Receiver bias in plant–animal interactions is here defined as “selection mediated by behavioral responses of animals, where those responses have evolved in a context outside the interactions.” As a consequence, the responses are not necessarily linked to fitness gains in interacting animals. Thus, receiver bias can help explain seemingly maladaptive patterns of behavior in interacting animals and the evolution of plant traits that trigger such behavior. In this review, I discuss principles of receiver bias, show its overlap with mimicry and how it differs from mimicry, and outline examples in different plant–animal interactions. The most numerous and best documented examples of receiver bias occur within plant–pollinator interactions. I elaborate on the ability of some plants to heat up their flowers (i.e., floral thermogenesis) and argue that this trait likely evolved under receiver bias, especially in pollination systems with oviposition mimicry. Further examples include signals in insect-mediated seed dispersal and plant defense through repellence of aphids. These examples show that receiver bias is widespread in different plant–animal interactions. For a broader understanding of the role of receiver bias in those interactions, we need more data on how animals respond to plant signals, the context and evolutionary history of those behaviors, and the evolutionary patterns of plant signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian P. Schiestl
- Department of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, University of Zürich, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland
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30
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Phenological specialisation of two ant-dispersed sedges in relation to requirements for qualitative and quantitative dispersal effectiveness. Ecol Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s11284-017-1479-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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31
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Connell RK, Pfennigwerth AA, Classen AT, Kwit C. Incorporating redispersal microsites into myrmecochory in eastern North American forests. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- R. Kent Connell
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Tennessee Knoxville Tennessee 37996 USA
- Division of Biology Kansas State University Manhattan Kansas 66506 USA
| | - Alix A. Pfennigwerth
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Tennessee Knoxville Tennessee 37996 USA
- Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries University of Tennessee Knoxville Tennessee 37996 USA
| | - Aimee T. Classen
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Tennessee Knoxville Tennessee 37996 USA
- The Natural History Museum of Denmark University of Copenhagen Østervoldgade 5‐7 DK‐1350 Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Charles Kwit
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Tennessee Knoxville Tennessee 37996 USA
- Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries University of Tennessee Knoxville Tennessee 37996 USA
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32
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Seed dispersal distances by ant partners reflect preferential recruitment patterns in two ant-dispersed sedges. Evol Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-016-9846-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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33
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Prior KM, Robinson JM, Meadley Dunphy SA, Frederickson ME. Mutualism between co-introduced species facilitates invasion and alters plant community structure. Proc Biol Sci 2016; 282:20142846. [PMID: 25540283 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2014.2846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Generalized mutualisms are often predicted to be resilient to changes in partner identity. Variation in mutualism-related traits between native and invasive species however, can exacerbate the spread of invasive species ('invasional meltdown') if invasive partners strongly interact. Here we show how invasion by a seed-dispersing ant (Myrmica rubra) promotes recruitment of a co-introduced invasive over native ant-dispersed (myrmecochorous) plants. We created experimental communities of invasive (M. rubra) or native ants (Aphaenogaster rudis) and invasive and native plants and measured seed dispersal and plant recruitment. In our mesocosms, and in laboratory and field trials, M. rubra acted as a superior seed disperser relative to the native ant. By contrast, previous studies have found that invasive ants are often poor seed dispersers compared with native ants. Despite belonging to the same behavioural guild, seed-dispersing ants were not functionally redundant. Instead, native and invasive ants had strongly divergent effects on plant communities: the invasive plant dominated in the presence of the invasive ant and the native plants dominated in the presence of the native ant. Community changes were not due to preferences for coevolved partners: variation in functional traits of linked partners drove differences. Here, we show that strongly interacting introduced mutualists can be major drivers of ecological change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten M Prior
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G5 Koffler Scientific Reserve, University of Toronto, King City, Ontario, Canada L7B 1K5
| | - Jennifer M Robinson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G5 Koffler Scientific Reserve, University of Toronto, King City, Ontario, Canada L7B 1K5
| | - Shannon A Meadley Dunphy
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G5 Koffler Scientific Reserve, University of Toronto, King City, Ontario, Canada L7B 1K5
| | - Megan E Frederickson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G5 Koffler Scientific Reserve, University of Toronto, King City, Ontario, Canada L7B 1K5
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Chen G, Huang SZ, Chen SC, Chen YH, Liu X, Sun WB. Chemical composition of diaspores of the myrmecochorous plant Stemona tuberosa Lour. BIOCHEM SYST ECOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bse.2015.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Renard D, Schatz B, McKey DB. Ant nest architecture and seed burial depth: Implications for seed fate and germination success in a myrmecochorous savanna shrub. ECOSCIENCE 2015. [DOI: 10.2980/17-2-3335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Egg Dispersal in the Phasmatodea: Convergence in Chemical Signaling Strategies Between Plants and Animals? J Chem Ecol 2015; 41:689-95. [DOI: 10.1007/s10886-015-0604-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2014] [Revised: 04/23/2015] [Accepted: 07/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Adaptive Advantage of Myrmecochory in the Ant-Dispersed Herb Lamium amplexicaule (Lamiaceae): Predation Avoidance through the Deterrence of Post-Dispersal Seed Predators. PLoS One 2015. [PMID: 26197397 PMCID: PMC4510857 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Seed dispersal by ants (myrmecochory) is found worldwide, but the benefits that plants obtain from this mutualism remain uncertain. In the present study, we conducted laboratory experiments to demonstrate seed predator avoidance as a benefit of myrmecochory using the annual ant-dispersed herb Lamium amplexicaule, the disperser ant Tetramorium tsushimae, and the seed predatory burrower bug Adomerus rotundus. We compared the predation intensity of Lamium amplexicaule seeds by Adomerus rotundus under the presence or absence of Tetramorium tsushimae. Both the number of seeds sucked by Adomerus rotundus adults and the feeding duration of sucked seeds by nymphs were significantly reduced in the presence of ants. This effect was most likely due to the behavioral alteration of Adomerus rotundus in response to the ant presence, because ants seldom predated Adomerus rotundus during the experiment. Our results demonstrated that the presence of ants decreases post-dispersal seed predation, even when the ants do not bury the seeds. The present study thus suggests that the non-consumptive effects of ants on seed predators benefit myrmecochorous plants.
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Orona-Tamayo D, Heil M. Stabilizing Mutualisms Threatened by Exploiters: New Insights from Ant-Plant Research. Biotropica 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Domancar Orona-Tamayo
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética; CINVESTAV-Irapuato; Irapuato Guanajuato Mexico
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químico-Biológicas; Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo (UMSNH); Edif. B3, Ciudad Universitaria 58060 Morelia Michoacán Mexico
| | - Martin Heil
- Departamento de Ingeniería Genética; CINVESTAV-Irapuato; Irapuato Guanajuato Mexico
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Signals can trump rewards in attracting seed-dispersing ants. PLoS One 2013; 8:e71871. [PMID: 23967257 PMCID: PMC3742508 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2013] [Accepted: 07/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Both rewards and signals are important in mutualisms. In myrmecochory, or seed dispersal by ants, the benefits to plants are relatively well studied, but less is known about why ants pick up and move seeds. We examined seed dispersal by the ant Aphaenogaster rudis of four co-occurring species of plants, and tested whether morphology, chemical signaling, or the nutritional quality of fatty seed appendages called elaiosomes influenced dispersal rates. In removal trials, ants quickly collected diaspores (seeds plus elaiosomes) of Asarum canadense, Trillium grandiflorum, and Sanguinaria canadensis, but largely neglected those of T. erectum. This discrepancy was not explained by differences in the bulk cost-benefit ratio, as assessed by the ratio of seed to elaiosome mass. We also provisioned colonies with diaspores from one of these four plant species or no diaspores as a control. Colonies performed best when fed S. canadensis diaspores, worst when fed T. grandiflorum, and intermediately when fed A. canadense, T. erectum, or no diaspores. Thus, the nutritional rewards in elaiosomes affected colony performance, but did not completely predict seed removal. Instead, high levels of oleic acid in T. grandiflorum elaiosomes may explain why ants disperse these diaspores even though they reduce ant colony performance. We show for the first time that different elaiosome-bearing plants provide rewards of different quality to ant colonies, but also that ants appear unable to accurately assess reward quality when encountering seeds. Instead, we suggest that signals can trump rewards as attractants of ants to seeds.
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Species, diaspore volume and body mass matter in gastropod seed feeding behavior. PLoS One 2013; 8:e68788. [PMID: 23844239 PMCID: PMC3700971 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2011] [Accepted: 06/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Seed dispersal of ant-dispersed plants (myrmecochores) is a well studied ecosystem function. Recently, slugs have been found to act as seed dispersers of myrmecochores. The aim of our study was to (1) further generalize the finding that gastropods feed on seeds of myrmecochores and hence may act as seed dispersers, (2) to test whether gastropod body mass and the volume of diaspores have an influence on the seed dispersal potential. Methodology and Principal Findings We assessed the seed dispersal potential of four slug and snail species with a set of seven myrmecochorous plant species from seven different plant families common to Central European beech forests. Diaspores differed in shape and size. Gastropods differed in their readiness to feed on diaspores and in the proportion of seeds that were swallowed as a whole, and this readiness generally decreased with increasing diaspore size. Smaller Arionid slugs (58 mm body length; mean) mostly fed on the elaiosome but also swallowed small diaspores and therefore not only act as elaiosome consumers, a nutrient rich appendage on myrmecochorous diaspores, but may also disperse seeds. Large Arionid slugs (>100 mm body length) swallowed diaspores of all sizes. Diaspores swallowed by gastropods were defecated without damage. Within-species variability in body size also affect seed dispersal potential, as larger individuals of the red slug (Arion rufus) swallowed more diaspores of wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa) than smaller ones. Conclusions and Significance Our results help to generalize the finding that gastropods consume and potentially disperse seeds of myrmecochores. The dispersal potential of gastropods is strongly influenced by diaspore size in relation to gastropod size.
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Bresinsky A. Ants, Plants and Fungi: A View on Some Patterns of Interaction and Diversity. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-38797-5_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
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Reifenrath K, Becker C, Poethke HJ. Diaspore trait preferences of dispersing ants. J Chem Ecol 2012; 38:1093-104. [PMID: 22903746 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-012-0174-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2012] [Revised: 04/12/2012] [Accepted: 04/21/2012] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Elaiosomes of myrmecochorous plant seeds are known to enhance the attraction of diaspore-dispersing ants by serving as a nutritional reward. However, it remained unclear which (nutritional) compounds affect diaspore preferences of ants. We hypothesized that apart from elaiosome/seed-size ratio, volume, and physical surface of diaspores, the quantity and the composition of fatty acids, amino acids, and sugars strongly influence the diaspore preferences of different species. Chemical (nutritional) profiles as well as structural properties of seeds with and without elaiosomes were analyzed and correlated with observed seed choice behavior of ants. Cafeteria experiments in the field confirmed the enhanced attractiveness of elaiosome-bearing seeds for all three ant species tested (Lasius fuliginosus, Myrmica ruginodis, and Temnothorax nylanderi), although seeds lacking elaiosomes also were transported. In multiple-choice cafeteria experiments with simultaneously offered diaspores of 16 plant species with and without elaiosome and with highly varying structural and chemical properties, all three ant species showed distinct preferences for certain diaspore species. Correlation analyses confirmed that the presence of an elaiosome represents the crucial factor that favors ant diaspore dispersal. In addition, the composition and the content of free amino acids, and to varying degrees fatty acids, were found to significantly affect preferences of each ant species, whereas the effect of single fatty acids acting as chemical triggers for diaspore transport by ants, as supposed by several studies, was not confirmed. In conclusion, although at least some diaspore species lacking elaiosomes attract ants for diaspore removal services by presenting nutritional seed coats, the production of elaiosomes seems to provide a worthwhile investment. Elaiosomes ensure rapid diaspore detection and removal due to chemical cue compounds and by offering a highly nutritional food supply, probably fitting the nutritional demands of ants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Reifenrath
- Department of Biology, Technical University Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstrasse 3, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany.
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Berg-Binder MC, Suarez AV. Testing the directed dispersal hypothesis: are native ant mounds (Formica sp.) favorable microhabitats for an invasive plant? Oecologia 2012; 169:763-72. [PMID: 22231374 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-011-2243-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2011] [Accepted: 12/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Ant-mediated seed dispersal may be a form of directed dispersal if collected seeds are placed in a favorable microhabitat (e.g., in or near an ant nest) that increases plant establishment, growth, and/or reproduction relative to random locations. We investigated whether the native ant community interacts with invasive leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) in a manner consistent with predictions of the directed dispersal hypothesis. Resident ants quickly located and dispersed 60% of experimentally offered E. esula seeds. Additionally, 40% of seeds whose final deposition site was observed were either brought inside or placed on top of an ant nest. Seed removal was 100% when seeds were placed experimentally on foraging trails of mound-building Formica obscuripes, although the deposition site of these seeds is unknown. Natural density and above-ground biomass of E. esula were greater on Formica mound edges compared to random locations. However, seedling recruitment and establishment from experimentally planted E. esula seeds was not greater on mound edges than random locations 3 m from the mound. Soil from Formica mound edges was greater in available nitrogen and available phosphorus relative to random soil locations 3 m from the mound. These results suggest Formica ant mounds are favorable microhabitats for E. esula growth following seedling establishment, a likely consequence of nutrient limitation during plant growth. The results also indicate positive species interactions may play an important role in biological invasions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moni C Berg-Binder
- School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 515 Morrill Hall, 505 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
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Fokuhl G, Heinze J, Poschlod P. Myrmecochory by small ants – Beneficial effects through elaiosome nutrition and seed dispersal. ACTA OECOLOGICA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2011.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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45
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MENZEL FLORIAN, STAAB MICHAEL, CHUNG ARTHURYC, GEBAUER GERHARD, BLÜTHGEN NICO. Trophic ecology of parabiotic ants: Do the partners have similar food niches? AUSTRAL ECOL 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-9993.2011.02290.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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46
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Youngsteadt E, Guerra Bustios P, Schal C. Divergent chemical cues elicit seed collecting by ants in an obligate multi-species mutualism in lowland Amazonia. PLoS One 2010; 5:e15822. [PMID: 21209898 PMCID: PMC3012710 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0015822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2010] [Accepted: 11/29/2010] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In lowland Amazonian rainforests, specific ants collect seeds of several plant species and cultivate them in arboreal carton nests, forming species-specific symbioses called ant-gardens (AGs). In this obligate mutualism, ants depend on the plants for nest stability and the plants depend on ant nests for substrate and nutrients. AG ants and plants are abundant, dominant members of lowland Amazonian ecosystems, but the cues ants use to recognize the seeds are poorly understood. To address the chemical basis of the ant-seed interaction, we surveyed seed chemistry in nine AG species and eight non-AG congeners. We detected seven phenolic and terpenoid volatiles common to seeds of all or most of the AG species, but a blend of the shared compounds was not attractive to the AG ant Camponotus femoratus. We also analyzed seeds of three AG species (Anthurium gracile, Codonanthe uleana, and Peperomia macrostachya) using behavior-guided fractionation. At least one chromatographic fraction of each seed extract elicited retrieval behavior in C. femoratus, but the active fractions of the three plant species differed in polarity and chemical composition, indicating that shared compounds alone did not explain seed-carrying behavior. We suggest that the various AG seed species must elicit seed-carrying with different chemical cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa Youngsteadt
- Department of Entomology and W.M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
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Türke M, Heinze E, Andreas K, Svendsen SM, Gossner MM, Weisser WW. Seed consumption and dispersal of ant-dispersed plants by slugs. Oecologia 2010; 163:681-93. [PMID: 20364390 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-010-1612-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2009] [Accepted: 03/13/2010] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Manfred Türke
- Institute of Ecology, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany.
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Lubertazzi D, Aliberti Lubertazzi MA, McCoy N, Gove AD, Majer JD, Dunn RR. The ecology of a keystone seed disperser, the ant Rhytidoponera violacea. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2010; 10:158. [PMID: 21067420 PMCID: PMC3016985 DOI: 10.1673/031.010.14118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2009] [Accepted: 03/03/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Rhytidoponera violacea (Forel) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is a keystone seed disperser in Kwongan heathl and habitats of southwestern Australia. Like many myrmecochorous ants, little is known about the basic biology of this species. In this study various aspects of the biology of R. violacea were examined and the researchers evaluated how these characteristics may influence seed dispersal. R. violacea nesting habits (relatively shallow nests), foraging behavior (scramble competitor and lax food selection criteria), and other life history characteristics complement their role as a mutualist that interacts with the seeds of many plant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dave Lubertazzi
- Department of Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | | | - Neil McCoy
- Department of Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Aaron D. Gove
- Centre for Ecosystem Diversity and Dynamics, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Jonathan D. Majer
- Centre for Ecosystem Diversity and Dynamics, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Robert R. Dunn
- Department of Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Centre for Ecosystem Diversity and Dynamics, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, WA, Australia
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Pfeiffer M, Huttenlocher H, Ayasse M. Myrmecochorous plants use chemical mimicry to cheat seed-dispersing ants. Funct Ecol 2009. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2009.01661.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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