A5058349956- Plant and animal studies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Biocrusts and Microbial Ecology
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Agroforestry and silvopastoral systems
- Lichen and fungal ecology
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Remote Sensing in Agriculture
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
University of Kaiserslautern
2016-2025
Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität Kaiserslautern-Landau
2024-2025
Natural History Museum
2016
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco
2007
Daimler (Germany)
2007
Bielefeld University
1997-2003
University of Würzburg
2003
Utah State University
2003
University of Missouri
2003
Hochschule Osnabrück
1993
Leaf-cutting ants such as Acromyrmex octospinosus live in obligate symbiosis with fungi of the genus Leucoagaricus, which they grow harvested leaf material. The symbiotic fungi, turn, serve a major food source for ants. This mutualistic relation is disturbed by specialized pathogenic fungus Escovopsis sp., can overcome Leucoagaricus sp. and thus destroy ant colony. Microbial symbionts leaf-cutting have been suggested to protect garden against producing antifungal compounds [Currie CR, Scott...
Leaf-cutting ants cultivate the fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus , which serves as a major food source. This symbiosis is threatened by microbial pathogens that can severely infect L. . Microbial symbionts of leaf-cutting ants, mainly Pseudonocardia and Streptomyces support in defending their gardens against infections supplying antimicrobial antifungal compounds. The ecological role microorganisms nests only be addressed detail if secondary metabolites are known. Here, we use an approach...
† Background and Aims Myrmecochory is a conspicuous feature of several sclerophyll ecosystems around the world but it has received little attention in semi-arid areas South America.This study addresses importance seed dispersal by ants 2500-km 2 area Caatinga ecosystem (north-east Brazil) investigates ant-derived benefits to plant through myrmecochory.† Methods Seed manipulation was investigated during 3-year period Xingo ´region.Both ant assemblages involved were described behaviour...
Abstract Herbivory has been identified as a potent evolutionary force, but its ecological impacts have frequently underestimated. Leaf‐cutting ants represent one of the most important herbivores Neotropics and offer an interesting opportunity to address role played by herbivorous insects through perspective that embraces population‐ ecosystem‐level effects. Here we: (1) qualitatively summarize multiple ways leaf‐cutting interact with food plants their habitats elucidate ultimate outcome such...
ABSTRACT Edge‐mediated changes in species composition are known to result modified interactions. Because of the crucial trophic position herbivores and their far‐reaching impact on plant communities, it is important understand how edge influences herbivory. In present paper, we investigated whether leaf‐cutting ant foraging altered forest edge, as this habitat characterized by an increased proportion pioneer species. We assessed basic data well herbivory rate ( i.e. , leaf material harvested...
Leaf-cutting ants (genera Atta and Acromyrmex) have been denoted key species of American rain-forest ecosystems (Fowler et al . 1989) because their multifarious effects on the vegetation. Being dominant herbivores, cutting up to 13% standing leaf crop in a colony's territory per year, they affect directly significantly individual plants, plant communities (Wirth al. 2003). The considerable ecological impact these is paralleled by well-known fact that some strongly benefit from human-driven...
Leafcutter ants propagate co-evolving fungi for food. The nearly 50 species of leafcutter (Atta, Acromyrmex) range from Argentina to the United States, with greatest diversity in southern South America. We elucidate biogeography cultivated by using DNA sequence and microsatellite-marker analyses 474 cultivars collected across range. Fungal belong two clades (Clade-A Clade-B). dominant widespread Clade-A form three genotype clusters, their relative prevalence corresponding America, northern...
The distribution and formation of foraging trails have largely been neglected as factors explaining harvesting patterns leaf-cutting ants. We applied fractal analysis, circular, conventional statistics to published newly recorded trail maps seven Atta colonies focusing on three aspects: permanence, spatio-temporal plasticity colony life stage. In the long term, young mature revealed that activities were focused distinct, static sectors made up only parts their potentially available range....
1. The role played by Atta species as ecosystem engineers remains poorly investigated despite previous evidence that their nests can impact plant assemblages. 2. In a large remnant of Atlantic forest, we compared forest structure at 36 cephalotes to control sites and assessed shifts in microclimate along transects from up 24 m into the (11 representative colonies). 3. Nests (average size: 55 m2) were virtually free understorey vegetation with high proportion dead stems (up 70%). 4. Canopy...
Abstract Despite considerable research into the effects of leaf‐cutting ant nests, potential occurrence low‐nutrient soils at nest sites has hitherto gone undetected. Leaf litter cover and topsoil conditions (organic carbon, total nitrogen, soil acidity, cation exchange capacity) were assessed along transects running from nests eight adult Atta cephalotes colonies understorey Atlantic forest to examine extent effects. Nests virtually free leaf ( c . 150 g m −2 ) increased a saturating curve...
Abstract: Anthropogenic disturbance often results in the proliferation of native species particular groups that leads to biotic homogenization. Leaf-cutting ants are an example such winner organisms tropical rain forests, but their response dry forests is poorly known. We investigated Atta colony density areas forest Brazil with different distance roads and vegetation cover. colonies were surveyed 59 belt transects 300 × 20 m, covering a total area 35.4 ha. found 224 colonies, 131 which...
The specialized, fungal pathogen Escovopsis weberi threatens the mutualistic symbiosis between leaf-cutting ants and their garden fungus (Leucoagaricus gongylophorus). Because E. can overwhelm L. gongylophorus without direct contact, it was suspected to secrete toxins. Using NMR mass spectrometry, we identified several secondary metabolites produced by weberi. produces five shearinine-type indole triterpenoids including two novel derivatives, shearinine L M, as well polyketides, emodin...
Abstract Human activities have converted mature forests into mosaics of successional vegetation and chronically disturbed habitats, altering the patterns population distribution, foraging ecology thus, flow matter nutrients through ecosystems. Although effects human disturbance are mostly harmful, hyperabundant native generalist species can emerge increase their populations under disturbance, such as leaf‐cutting ants (LCA), prominent herbivores that considered ecosystem engineers. Here, we...
ABSTRACT Leaf‐cutting ants (LCAs) profoundly benefit from edge creation in Neotropical forests, where they act as a keystone species and disturbance agent. In view of their poorly explored population dynamics, the question arises whether high densities LCAs are transitional or persisting phenomenon. We studied temporal variation LCA colony at Brazilian Atlantic forest. At physically stable edges an old forest fragment, Atta cephalotes sexdens (11 five times higher 50 m zone comparison with...