Bottom-up Mediation of an Ant-Membracid Mutualism: Effects from Different Host Plants |
| |
Authors: | Jennifer S Reithel Ian Billick |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA;(2) Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, PO Box 519, Crested Butte, Colorado 81224, USA |
| |
Abstract: | The relationship between the membracid, Publilia modesta, and the tending ant, Formica obscuripes, was either a mutualism or commensalism depending on the host plant species. Experimental manipulation of the presence of
ants in two different years indicated that the presence of ants had a positive effect on nymph numbers on both host plants,
Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus and Wyethia spp. However, Wyethia spp. senesced before membracid nymphs reached adulthood, causing extensive mortality of membracids. In contrast, C. viscidiflorus plants senesced after nymphs had developed into adults. The increased number of nymphs in the presence of ants translated
into more new adults on C. viscidiflorus, but not on Wyethia spp. Poor host plant choices may render the presence of ants irrelevant for such insects on some host plants. Being a host
plant generalist may lead to significant variability in the outcomes of mutualistic interactions.
Co-ordinating editor: N. Yamamura |
| |
Keywords: | ants bottom-up conditional outcomes host plants membracids mutualism Publilia modesta RMBL |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|