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Battisti C, Di Giulio A, Fanelli G, Cerfolli F. Anthills: stressor or opportunity for plant assemblage diversity? Evidence from Mediterranean Dasypyretum grasslands. ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2021.1941269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Corrado Battisti
- Torre Flavia LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) Station, Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Servizio Aree Protette, Parchi Regionali, Viale G. Ribotta 41, Rome 00144, Italy
| | - Andrea Di Giulio
- Dipartimento di Scienze, Università Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, Rome 00146, Italy
| | - Giuliano Fanelli
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Rome 00133, Italy
| | - Fulvio Cerfolli
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), Ichthyogenic Experimental Marine Centre (CISMAR), Tuscia University, Borgo Le Saline, Tarquinia (Viterbo) 01016, Italy
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Schifani E, Castracani C, Giannetti D, Spotti FA, Reggiani R, Leonardi S, Mori A, Grasso DA. New Tools for Conservation Biological Control: Testing Ant-Attracting Artificial Nectaries to Employ Ants as Plant Defenders. INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11020129. [PMID: 32079350 PMCID: PMC7074267 DOI: 10.3390/insects11020129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge of the role of ants in many agroecosystems is relatively scarce, and in temperate regions the possibility to exploit ants as biocontrol agents for crop protection is still largely unexplored. Drawing inspiration from mutualistic ant–plant relationships mediated by extrafloral nectaries (EFNs), we tested the use of artificial nectaries (ANs) in order to increase ant activity on pear trees and to evaluate the effects on the arthropods, plant health and fruit production. While EFNs secrete a complex solution mainly composed of sugars and amino acids, ANs were filled with water and sucrose only. The results suggest that ANs can be used as manipulative instruments to increase ant activity over long periods of time. High ant activity was significantly linked to lower incidence of the pathogen fungus Venturia pyrina (pear scab) on pear leaves, and of the presence of Cydia pomonella (codling moth) caterpillars on pear fruit production. These results further encourage exploring underrated possibilities in the development of new tools for conservation biological control (CBC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Schifani
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences & Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze, 11/a, 43124 Parma, Italy; (D.G.); (F.A.S.); (S.L.); (A.M.); (D.A.G.)
- Correspondence: (E.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Cristina Castracani
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences & Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze, 11/a, 43124 Parma, Italy; (D.G.); (F.A.S.); (S.L.); (A.M.); (D.A.G.)
- Correspondence: (E.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Daniele Giannetti
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences & Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze, 11/a, 43124 Parma, Italy; (D.G.); (F.A.S.); (S.L.); (A.M.); (D.A.G.)
| | - Fiorenza Augusta Spotti
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences & Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze, 11/a, 43124 Parma, Italy; (D.G.); (F.A.S.); (S.L.); (A.M.); (D.A.G.)
| | - Roberto Reggiani
- Azienda Agraria Sperimentale Stuard, Strada Madonna dell’Aiuto, 7/a, 43126 San Pancrazio, Parma, Italy;
| | - Stefano Leonardi
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences & Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze, 11/a, 43124 Parma, Italy; (D.G.); (F.A.S.); (S.L.); (A.M.); (D.A.G.)
| | - Alessandra Mori
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences & Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze, 11/a, 43124 Parma, Italy; (D.G.); (F.A.S.); (S.L.); (A.M.); (D.A.G.)
| | - Donato Antonio Grasso
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences & Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze, 11/a, 43124 Parma, Italy; (D.G.); (F.A.S.); (S.L.); (A.M.); (D.A.G.)
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Gall-Colonizing Ants and Their Role as Plant Defenders: From 'Bad Job' to 'Useful Service'. INSECTS 2019; 10:insects10110392. [PMID: 31698832 PMCID: PMC6920797 DOI: 10.3390/insects10110392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Galls are neoformed structures on host plant tissues caused by the attack of insects or other organisms. They support different communities of specialized parasitic insects (the gall inducers), and can also provide refuge to other insects, such as moths, beetles and ants, referred to as secondary occupants. This study focuses on galls induced by the oak gall wasp Andricus quercustozae and secondarily colonized by ants in a mixed oak forest. A field survey and two experiments were carried out to a) study ant (species-specific) preferences for different features of the galls, b) describe differences in gall architecture due to ant activity, c) analyse the effects of the presence of gall-dwelling ants on plant health. The results show that there are differences between ant species in gall colonization and in the alteration of gall opening and inner structure. We verified that gall-dwelling ants protect their host plants efficiently, offering them an indirect defence mechanism against enemies (predators and pathogens). The data suggest a new paradigm in ant–plant relationships mediated by the presence of galls on the plants whose ecological and evolutionary implications are discussed.
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Saar M, Subach A, Reato I, Liber T, Pruitt JN, Scharf I. Consistent differences in foraging behavior in 2 sympatric harvester ant species may facilitate coexistence. Curr Zool 2018; 64:653-661. [PMID: 30323844 PMCID: PMC6178789 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zox054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The co-occurrence of 2 similar species depends on their ability to occupy different ecological niches. Here, we compared the consistency of different aspects of foraging behavior in 2 co-occurring harvester ant species (Messor ebeninus and Messor arenarius), under field conditions. The 2 species are active concomitantly and display a similar diet, but M. arenarius features smaller colonies, larger workers on average, and a broader range of foraging strategies than M. ebeninus. We characterized the flora in the 2 species' natural habitat, and detected a nesting preference by M. arenarius for more open, vegetation-free microhabitats than those preferred by M. ebeninus. Next, we tested the food preference of foraging colonies by presenting 3 non-native seed types. Messor arenarius was more selective in its food choice. Colonies were then offered 1 type of seeds over 3 days in different spatial arrangements from the nest entrance (e.g., a seed plate close to the nest entrance, a seed plate blocked by an obstacle, or 3 plates placed at increasing distances from the nest entrance). While both species were consistent in their foraging behavior, expressed as seed collection, under different treatments over time, M. ebeninus was more consistent than M. arenarius. These differences between the species may be explained by their different colony size, worker size, and range of foraging strategies, among other factors. We suggest that the differences in foraging, such as in food preference and behavioral consistency while foraging, could contribute to the co-occurrence of these 2 species in a similar habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Saar
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Aziz Subach
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Illan Reato
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Tal Liber
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Jonathan N Pruitt
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Inon Scharf
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Response of a Predatory ant to Volatiles Emitted by Aphid- and Caterpillar-Infested Cucumber and Potato Plants. J Chem Ecol 2017; 43:1007-1022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10886-017-0887-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Revised: 09/10/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Castracani C, Maienza A, Grasso DA, Genesio L, Malcevschi A, Miglietta F, Vaccari FP, Mori A. Biochar-macrofauna interplay: Searching for new bioindicators. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 536:449-456. [PMID: 26232755 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Revised: 07/01/2015] [Accepted: 07/05/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Biochar incorporation in agricultural soils has been proposed as a climate change mitigation strategy and has proved to substantially increase crop productivity via physical, chemical and biological mechanisms. The changes induced in soil properties are known to have a direct impact on soil ecosystem with consequences for soil biota community that, in turn, can influence biochar aging in soil. Despite several studies investigated in the interplay between biochar and soil microbiology, there is a clear lack of information on groups that live in the most superficial ground layers: soil meso and macro fauna. These groups are of great importance if we consider that biochar application should ideally be located in the soil's surface layer (0-30 cm). Our study is the first attempt to investigate the interactions between biochar soil amendments and aboveground soil macro-meso fauna in a field crop. This was made setting-up a randomized-block experiment on a processing tomato crop in northern Italy, using three different biochar types and periodically monitoring soil parameters and fauna abundances along the crop growing cycle in summer 2013. Results show that the impact of biochar application on soil fauna as a whole is small when compared to that of agricultural management, suggesting that this amendment does not have short-term ecological interferences. Nevertheless, ants exhibited variations in abundances and distribution connected to properties of amended soils such as temperature, pH and humidity, proving that they can be effectively used as a target group in the study of interactions between biochar and soil biota.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Castracani
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/a, 43124 Parma, Italy.
| | - A Maienza
- Institute of Biometeorology, National Research Council (IBIMET-CNR), Via G. Caproni 8, 50145 Firenze, Italy.
| | - D A Grasso
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/a, 43124 Parma, Italy.
| | - L Genesio
- Institute of Biometeorology, National Research Council (IBIMET-CNR), Via G. Caproni 8, 50145 Firenze, Italy.
| | - A Malcevschi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/a, 43124 Parma, Italy.
| | - F Miglietta
- Institute of Biometeorology, National Research Council (IBIMET-CNR), Via G. Caproni 8, 50145 Firenze, Italy.
| | - F P Vaccari
- Institute of Biometeorology, National Research Council (IBIMET-CNR), Via G. Caproni 8, 50145 Firenze, Italy.
| | - A Mori
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/a, 43124 Parma, Italy.
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Spotti F, Castracani C, Grasso D, Mori A. Daily activity patterns and food preferences in an alpine ant community. ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2014.947634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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