Predation and aggressiveness in host plant protection: a generalization using ants from the genus Azteca

• DOI: 10.1007/s00114-008-0448-y
• Publication Date: 2008-10-02T13:19:29Z
• Authors: Alain Dejean; Julien Grangier; Céline Leroy; Jerôme Orivel
• Keywords: [SDV.SA]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Agricultural sciences; 0106 biological sciences; 570; BIOTIC DEFENCE; 590; DÉFENSE BIOTIQUE; [SDV.BID]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biodiversity; Isoptera; COMPORTEMENT AGRESSIF; AZTECA BEQUAERTI; 01 natural sciences; FOURMI AZTECA; Nesting Behavior; Animals; tococa guianensis; [SDV.EE]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology, environment; azteca ovaticeps; behavior; Ants; [SDV.BA]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Animal biology; AZTECA ALFARI; Plants; Animal Feed; Aggression; Fruit; Predatory Behavior; ANT-PLANT RELATIONSHIPS; RELATION PLANTE-FOURMI; cecropiaceae; AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR

In studying the ant genus Azteca, a Neotropical group of arboreal species, we aimed to determine the extent to which the ants use predation and/or aggressiveness to protect their host plants from defoliating insects. We compared a territorially dominant, carton-nester, Azteca chartifex, and three plant-ant species. Azteca alfari and Azteca ovaticeps are associated with the myrmecophyte Cecropia (Cecropiaceae) and their colonies shelter in its hollow branches; whereas Azteca bequaerti is associated with Tococa guianensis (Melastomataceae) and its colonies shelter in leaf pouches situated at the base of the laminas. Whereas A. bequaerti workers react to the vibrations transmitted by the lamina when an alien insect lands on a leaf making it unnecessary for them to patrol their plant, the workers of the three other species rather discover prey by contact. The workers of all four species use a predatory behaviour involving spread-eagling alien insects after recruiting nestmates at short range, and, in some cases, at long range. Because A. alfari and A. ovaticeps discard part of the insects they kill, we deduced that the workers' predatory behaviour and territorial aggressiveness combine in the biotic defence of their host tree.