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Author Rifflet, A.; Tene, N.; Orivel, J.; Treilhou, M.; Dejean, A.; Vetillard, A. pdf  url
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  Title Paralyzing Action from a Distance in an Arboreal African Ant Species Type Journal Article
  Year 2011 Publication PLoS One Abbreviated Journal PLoS ONE  
  Volume 6 Issue 12 Pages e28571  
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  Abstract Due to their prowess in interspecific competition and ability to catch a wide range of arthropod prey (mostly termites with which they are engaged in an evolutionary arms race), ants are recognized as a good model for studying the chemicals involved in defensive and predatory behaviors. Ants' wide diversity of nesting habits and relationships with plants and prey types implies that these chemicals are also very diverse. Using the African myrmicine ant Crematogaster striatula as our focal species, we adopted a three-pronged research approach. We studied the aggressive and predatory behaviors of the ant workers, conducted bioassays on the effect of their Dufour gland contents on termites, and analyzed these contents. (1) The workers defend themselves or eliminate termites by orienting their abdominal tip toward the opponent, stinger protruded. The chemicals emitted, apparently volatile, trigger the recruitment of nestmates situated in the vicinity and act without the stinger having to come into direct contact with the opponent. Whereas alien ants competing with C. striatula for sugary food sources are repelled by this behavior and retreat further and further away, termites defend their nest whatever the danger. They face down C. striatula workers and end up by rolling onto their backs, their legs batting the air. (2) The bioassays showed that the toxicity of the Dufour gland contents acts in a time-dependent manner, leading to the irreversible paralysis, and, ultimately, death of the termites. (3) Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses showed that the Dufour gland contains a mixture of mono- or polyunsaturated long-chain derivatives, bearing functional groups like oxo-alcohols or oxo-acetates. Electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry showed the presence of a molecule of 1584 Da that might be a large, acetylated alkaloid capable of splitting into smaller molecules that could be responsible for the final degree of venom toxicity.  
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  Publisher Public Library of Science Place of Publication Editor  
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  Call Number EcoFoG @ webmaster @ Serial 376  
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Author Lauth, J.; Ruiz-González, M.X.; Orivel, J. pdf  url
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  Title New findings in insect fungiculture: Have ants developed non-food, agricultural products? Type Journal Article
  Year 2011 Publication Communicative & Integrative Biology Abbreviated Journal Comm & Integr Biol  
  Volume 4 Issue 1942-0889 Pages 728-730  
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  Abstract The interaction between Allomerus plant-ants and an ascomycete fungus growing on and strengthening their galleries is not opportunistic. We previously demonstrated that this association is highly specific as only one fungal species represented by a few haplotypes was found associated with the ants. We also discovered that the ants' behavior revealed a major investment in manipulating and enhancing the growth of their associated fungus. We have growing evidence that this specificity is consistent with selection by the ants. Here, we discuss this selection within the framework of insect agriculture, as we believe these ants fulfill all of the prerequisites to be considered as farmers. Allomerus ants promote their symbiont's growth, protect it from potential pathogens and select specific cultivars. Taken together, we think that the interaction between Allomerus ants and their cultivar might represent the first case of insect fungiculture used as a means of obtaining building material.  
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  Publisher Landes Bioscience Inc. Place of Publication Editor  
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  Call Number EcoFoG @ webmaster @ Serial 379  
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Author Fromin, N.; Saby, N.P.A.; Lensi, R.; Brunet, D.; Porte, B.; Domenach, A.-M.; Roggy, J.-C. url  doi
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  Title Spatial variability of soil microbial functioning in a tropical rainforest of French Guiana using nested sampling Type Journal Article
  Year 2013 Publication Geoderma Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 197-198 Issue Pages 98-107  
  Keywords Denitrification; Respiration; Scale dependent process; Soil microbial processes; Soil organic matter; Tree influence potential  
  Abstract Understanding the pattern in spatial distribution of soil microbial processes is critical to understand the environmental factors that regulate them as well as to scale up these processes to ecosystem. Soil samples from a 1. ha tropical rainforest plot (Paracou, French Guiana) were analyzed according a nested sampling approach using different separation distances ranging from 0.4 to 40. m. The variability of substrate induced respiration (SIR) and of denitrification enzyme activity (DEA) was characterized in relation to various soil properties (total C and N contents, NIRS related index of soil organic matter quality, SOMQ, and index of tree influence potential, IP). The variability of SIR and DEA was higher than that of environmental properties. The patterns of accumulated variance as a function of distance varied among the soil properties. The variability of SIR and DEA mainly occurred at small (1. m) scale (and at the 10-40. m-scales for SIR), probably reflecting the quality of litter input that results of the influence of local assemblage of different tree species, though changes in the soil N and C contents. Indeed, total soil C and N contents explained the microbial properties at every scale. Coefficients of codispersion showed that neither SOMQ nor IP did correlate with SIR and DEA, and confirmed that total C and N contents explained microbial properties in a scale dependent and complex manner. Such spatial dependency underlines the importance of soil heterogeneity in this tropical forest with implications for sampling strategies when studying the microbial processes and their response to disturbances. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.  
  Address UMR EcoFoG, BP 709, 97387 Kourou, GUF, France  
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  Notes Export Date: 13 February 2013; Source: Scopus Approved no  
  Call Number EcoFoG @ webmaster @ Serial 466  
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Author Tahiri, A.; Amissa Adima, A.; Adjé, F.A.; Amusant, N. url  openurl
  Title Pesticide effects and screening of extracts of Azadirachta Indica (A.) Juss. on the Macrotermes bellicosus rambur termite Type Journal Article
  Year 2011 Publication Bois et Forets des Tropiques Abbreviated Journal Effet pesticide et screening des extraits de Azadirachta indica (A.) Juss. sur le termite Macroterme  
  Volume 65 Issue 310 Pages 79-88  
  Keywords Azadirachta indica; Pesticide properties; Phytochemical screening; Termite  
  Abstract To recommend applications in the field of a naturally insecticide plant substance as an alternative to chemical control against termite attacks, several important prerequisites need to be satisfied to ensure its effectiveness. The toxicity, lethal dose, mode of action, persistence of insecticide effect and chemical composition of total aqueous, alcohol and hexane extracts of the leaves and seeds of the neem tree, Azadirachta indica, were tested with the Macrotermes bellicosus termite. The extracts were found to be highly toxic to termites on contact, killing the entire population tested. The insecticide effect of the extracts persisted from 2.4 to 4.2 days. The aqueous and hexane extracts were the most toxic (LD50 0.422±0.018 to 4,466±0,162 mg/l). Contact and inhalation were both essential to their effectiveness. The aqueous extract of seeds, which is the most active, is also capable of being transferred through the colony during social tasks. However, it seems to have an anti-appetent effect on termites and does not act by ingestion. It contains phenol compounds (tannins and flavonoids) and saponins. The hexane extract of seeds is oily and contains 11 fatty acids as well as terpenoids, flavonoids and saponins.  
  Address Cirad Laboratoire de Chimie du Bois, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France  
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  Notes Export Date: 20 November 2012; Source: Scopus Approved no  
  Call Number EcoFoG @ webmaster @ Serial 447  
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Author Nirma, C.; Rodrigues, A.M.S.; Basset, C.; Chevolot, L.; Girod, R.; Moretti, C.; Stien, D.; Dusfour, I.; Eparvier, V. doi  openurl
  Title Larvicidal activity of isoflavonoids from Muellera frutescens extracts against Aedes aegypti Type Journal Article
  Year 2012 Publication Natural Product Communications Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 7 Issue 10 Pages 1319-1322  
  Keywords Aedes aegypti; French Guiana; Insecticides; Isoflavonoids; Muellera frutescens  
  Abstract The biological activity of extracts from the leaves, bark and roots of Muellera frutescens, an Amazonian ichtyotoxic plant, were evaluated to find new environmentally safe insecticides. The n-hexane extracts of bark, leaf, and root showed a strong toxic activity against Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae. Bioguided fractionation of the bark extract led to the isolation of seven isoflavonoids (12a-hydroxyelliptone, elliptone, (-)-variabilin, rotenone, rotenolone, tephrosin and deguelin). Rotenone and deguelin are responsible for the larvicidal activity of the plant. M. frutescens leaves contain up to 0.6%, w/w, deguelin. These results justify the traditional ichtyotoxic use of M. frutescens. The leaves contain a relatively high proportion of deguelin and, therefore, can be considered as a renewable source of this environmentally friendly insecticidal isoflavonoid.  
  Address CNRS, Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, UPR 2301, 1 avenue de la Terrasse, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France  
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  Notes Export Date: 6 December 2012; Source: Scopus Approved no  
  Call Number EcoFoG @ webmaster @ Serial 448  
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Author Carrias, J.-F.; Brouard, O.; Leroy, C.; Céréghino, R.; Pélozuelo, L.; Dejean, A.; Corbara, B. url  openurl
  Title An ant-plant mutualism induces shifts in the protist community structure of a tank-bromeliad Type Journal Article
  Year 2012 Publication Basic and Applied Ecology Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 13 Issue 8 Pages 698-705  
  Keywords Aechmea mertensii; Ant-garden; Biodiversity; Camponotus femoratus; French Guiana; Pachycondyla goeldii; Phytotelmata; Protists  
  Abstract Although ants may induce community-wide effects via changes in physical habitats in terrestrial environments, their influence on aquatic communities living in plant-held waters remains largely underexplored. The neotropical tank-bromeliad Aechmea mertensii (Bromeliaceae) occurs along forest edges in ant-gardens initiated by Camponotus femoratus or by Pachycondyla goeldii. Its leaves form wells that hold rainwater and provide suitable habitats for many aquatic organisms. We postulated that these ant-plant mutualisms indirectly affect the microbial community structure via changes in the environmental conditions experienced by the plants. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed the protist communities from 63 tank-bromeliads associated with either C. femoratus or P. goeldii (hereafter Cf-Aechmea and Pg-Aechmea) along a forest edge in French Guiana. For each plant, a large number of environmental variables (including habitat structure, food resources, incident radiation and the presence of aquatic invertebrates) were quantified to determine their relative importance in driving any observed differences across ant-associated plants. Pg-Aechmea are located in sun-exposed areas and hold low volumes of water and low amounts of detritus, whereas Cf-Aechmea are located in partially shaded areas and accumulate higher amounts of water and detritus. Protists (i.e., protozoa and algae) inhabiting Cf-Aechmea exhibit greater richness and abundances than those in Pg-Aechmea. Variations in detritus content, number of leaves, incident radiation, and the epiphyte richness of the ant-garden were the main factors explaining the variation in protist richness. A shift in the functional group composition of protists between bromeliads tended by different ant species suggested that mutualistic ants indirectly mediate changes in the microbial food web. © 2012 Gesellschaft für Ökologie.  
  Address Université de Toulouse; UPS, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, France  
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  Notes Export Date: 14 December 2012; Source: Scopus Approved no  
  Call Number EcoFoG @ webmaster @ Serial 449  
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Author Rifflet, A.; Gavalda, S.; Téné, N.; Orivel, J.; Leprince, J.; Guilhaudis, L.; Génin, E.; Vétillard, A.; Treilhou, M. url  openurl
  Title Identification and characterization of a novel antimicrobial peptide from the venom of the ant Tetramorium bicarinatum Type Journal Article
  Year 2012 Publication Peptides Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 38 Issue 2 Pages 363-370  
  Keywords Amp; Ant venom; Antibacterial peptide; Bicarinalin; Esi-Ms/Ms; Staphylococcus; Tetramorium bicarinatum  
  Abstract A novel antimicrobial peptide, named Bicarinalin, has been isolated from the venom of the ant Tetramorium bicarinatum. Its amino acid sequence has been determined by de novo sequencing using mass spectrometry and by Edman degradation. Bicarinalin contained 20 amino acid residues and was C-terminally amidated as the majority of antimicrobial peptides isolated to date from insect venoms. Interestingly, this peptide had a linear structure and exhibited no meaningful similarity with any known peptides. Antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and S. xylosus strains were evaluated using a synthetic replicate. Bicarinalin had a potent and broad antibacterial activity of the same magnitude as Melittin and other hymenopteran antimicrobial peptides such as Pilosulin or Defensin. Moreover, this antimicrobial peptide has a weak hemolytic activity compared to Melittin on erythrocytes, suggesting potential for development into an anti-infective agent for use against emerging antibiotic-resistant pathogens. © 2012 Elsevier Inc.  
  Address ThermoFisher Scientific, 16 avenue du Québec, 91963 Courtaboeuf, France  
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  Notes Export Date: 15 January 2013; Source: Scopus Approved no  
  Call Number EcoFoG @ webmaster @ Serial 456  
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Author Rodrigues, A.M.S.; Stien, D.; Eparvier, V.; Espindola, L.S.; Beauchene, J.; Amusant, N.; Lemenager, N.; Baudasse, C.; Raguin, L. url  openurl
  Title The wood preservative potential of long-lasting Amazonian wood extracts Type Journal Article
  Year 2012 Publication International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 75 Issue Pages 146-149  
  Keywords Durable wood extracts; Handroanthus serratifolius; Rotting fungi; Wood preservation  
  Abstract Investigations were carried out on the efficacy of extracts from seven Amazonian woods (Bagassa guianensis, Manilkara huberi, Sextonia rubra, Vouacapoua americana, Andira surinamensis, Handroanthus serratifolius, and Qualea rosea) with varying natural durability to reduce soft-rot degradation in a 6-wk soil-bed test. Six of the wood extracts had shown efficacy against soft-rot fungi. In particular, the preservation efficacies of B. guianensis, H. serratifolius, and S. rubra extracts were highly significant up to retention levels of 23, 25, and 12 kg m-3, respectively. Three extracts (A. surinamensis, H. serratifolius, and Q. rosea) were then tested against Gloeophyllum trabeum (brown rot) and Trametes versicolor (white rot), in an agar-block test. H. serratifolius wood extract was very efficient at protecting P. sylvestris samples at 5.1 kg m-3 against the brown rot. This extract could be used as a basis for new wood protectant formulations. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.  
  Address Laboratoire de Préservation, CIRAD, 73 rue JF Breton, Montpellier 34398, TA B 40-16, cedex 5, France  
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  Notes Export Date: 15 January 2013; Source: Scopus Approved no  
  Call Number EcoFoG @ webmaster @ Serial 457  
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Author Basset, Y.; Cizek, L.; Cuénoud, P.; Didham, R.K.; Guilhaumon, F.; Missa, O.; Novotny, V.; Ødegaard, F.; Roslin, T.; Schmidl, J.; Tishechkin, A.K.; Winchester, N.N.; Roubik, D.W.; Aberlenc, H.-P.; Bail, J.; Barrios, H.; Bridle, J.R.; Castaño-Meneses, G.; Corbara, B.; Curletti, G.; Da Rocha, W.D.; De Bakker, D.; Delabie, J.H.C.; Dejean, A.; Fagan, L.L.; Floren, A.; Kitching, R.L.; Medianero, E.; Miller, S.E.; De Oliveira, E.G.; Orivel, J.; Pollet, M.; Rapp, M.; Ribeiro, S.P.; Roisin, Y.; Schmidt, J.B.; Sørensen, L.; Leponce, M. url  openurl
  Title Arthropod diversity in a tropical forest Type Journal Article
  Year 2012 Publication Science Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 338 Issue 6113 Pages 1481-1484  
  Keywords  
  Abstract Most eukaryotic organisms are arthropods. Yet, their diversity in rich terrestrial ecosystems is still unknown. Here we produce tangible estimates of the total species richness of arthropods in a tropical rainforest. Using a comprehensive range of structured protocols, we sampled the phylogenetic breadth of arthropod taxa from the soil to the forest canopy in the San Lorenzo forest, Panama. We collected 6144 arthropod species from 0.48 hectare and extrapolated total species richness to larger areas on the basis of competing models. The whole 6000-hectare forest reserve most likely sustains 25,000 arthropod species. Notably, just 1 hectare of rainforest yields >60% of the arthropod biodiversity held in the wider landscape. Models based on plant diversity fitted the accumulated species richness of both herbivore and nonherbivore taxa exceptionally well. This lends credence to global estimates of arthropod biodiversity developed from plant models.  
  Address Natural History Museum of Denmark, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark  
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  Notes Export Date: 27 December 2012; Source: Scopus Approved no  
  Call Number EcoFoG @ webmaster @ Serial 451  
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Author Mathieu, A.; Letort, V.; Cournède, P.H.; Zhang, B.G.; Heuret, P.; De Reffye, P. url  openurl
  Title Oscillations in functional structural plant growth models Type Journal Article
  Year 2012 Publication Mathematical Modelling of Natural Phenomena Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 7 Issue 6 Pages 47-66  
  Keywords Cecropia trees; Cucumber plant; Dynamic system of plant growth; Functional-structural plant models; GreenLab  
  Abstract The dynamic model of plant growth GreenLab describes plant architecture and functional growth at the level of individual organs. Structural development is controlled by formal grammars and empirical equations compute the amount of biomass produced by the plant, and its partitioning among the growing organs, such as leaves, stems and fruits. The number of organs initiated at each time step depends on the trophic state of the plant, which is evaluated by the ratio of biomass available in plant to the demand of all the organs. The control of the plant organogenesis by this variable induces oscillations in the simulated plant behaviour. The mathematical framework of the GreenLab model allows to compute the conditions for the generation of oscillations and the value of the period according to the set of parameters. Two case-studies are presented, corresponding to emergence of oscillations associated to fructification and branching. Similar alternating patterns are commonly reported by botanists. In this article, two examples were selected: alternate patterns of fruits in cucumber plants and alternate appearances of branches in Cecropia trees. The model was calibrated from experimental data collected on these plants. It shows that a simple feedback hypothesis of trophic control on plant structure allows the emergence of cyclic patterns corresponding to the observed ones. © EDP Sciences, 2012.  
  Address CIRAD, UMR AMAP, Montpellier, France  
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  Notes Export Date: 27 December 2012; Source: Scopus Approved no  
  Call Number EcoFoG @ webmaster @ Serial 452  
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