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Author (up) Dejean, A.; Azémar, F.; Petitclerc, F.; Delabie, J.H.C.; Corbara, B.; Leroy, C.; Céréghino, R.; Compin, A.
Title Highly modular pattern in ant-plant interactions involving specialized and non-specialized myrmecophytes Type Journal Article
Year 2018 Publication Science of Nature Abbreviated Journal
Volume 105 Issue 43 Pages
Keywords Ant-plant mutualism; Ecological network; Modularity; Myrmecophytes; Nestedness; Sympatric species
Abstract Because Tachia guianensis (Gentianaceae) is a “non-specialized myrmecophyte” associated with 37 ant species, we aimed to determine if its presence alters the ant guild associated with sympatric “specialized myrmecophytes” (i.e., plants sheltering a few ant species in hollow structures). The study was conducted in a hilly zone of a neotropical rainforest where two specialized myrmecophytes grow at the bottom of the slopes, another at mid-slope, and a fourth on the hilltops. Tachia guianensis, which occurred everywhere, had its own guild of associated ant species. A network analysis showed that its connections with the four other myrmecophytes were rare and weak, the whole resulting in a highly modular pattern of interactions with one module (i.e., subnetwork) per myrmecophyte. Three ant species parasitized three out of the four specialized myrmecophytes (low nestedness noted), but were not or barely associated with T. guianensis that therefore did not influence the parasitism of specialized myrmecophytes. © 2018, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.
Address AMAP, IRD, CIRAD, CNRS, INRA, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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Notes Export Date: 1 September 2018 Approved no
Call Number EcoFoG @ webmaster @ Serial 815
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