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Dejean, A.; Leroy, C.; Corbara, B.; Cereghino, R.; Roux, O.; Herault, B.; Rossi, V.; Guerrero, R.J.; Delabie, J.H.C.; Orivel, J.; Boulay, R. |
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Title |
A temporary social parasite of tropical plant-ants improves the fitness of a myrmecophyte |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2010 |
Publication  |
Naturwissenschaften |
Abbreviated Journal |
Naturwissenschaften |
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Volume |
97 |
Issue |
10 |
Pages |
925-934 |
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Keywords |
Ant-plant relationships; Biotic defense; Parasites of mutualisms; Temporary social parasites; Azteca; Cecropia |
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Abstract |
Myrmecophytes offer plant-ants a nesting place in exchange for protection from their enemies, particularly defoliators. These obligate ant-plant mutualisms are common model systems for studying factors that allow horizontally transmitted mutualisms to persist since parasites of ant-myrmecophyte mutualisms exploit the rewards provided by host plants whilst providing no protection in return. In pioneer formations in French Guiana, Azteca alfari and Azteca ovaticeps are known to be mutualists of myrmecophytic Cecropia (Cecropia ants). Here, we show that Azteca andreae, whose colonies build carton nests on myrmecophytic Cecropia, is not a parasite of Azteca-Cecropia mutualisms nor is it a temporary social parasite of A. alfari; it is, however, a temporary social parasite of A. ovaticeps. Contrarily to the two mutualistic Azteca species that are only occasional predators feeding mostly on hemipteran honeydew and food bodies provided by the host trees, A. andreae workers, which also attend hemipterans, do not exploit the food bodies. Rather, they employ an effective hunting technique where the leaf margins are fringed with ambushing workers, waiting for insects to alight. As a result, the host trees' fitness is not affected as A. andreae colonies protect their foliage better than do mutualistic Azteca species resulting in greater fruit production. Yet, contrarily to mutualistic Azteca, when host tree development does not keep pace with colony growth, A. andreae workers forage on surrounding plants; the colonies can even move to a non-Cecropia tree. |
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[Dejean, Alain; Leroy, Celine; Roux, Olivier; Orivel, Jerome] CNRS, F-97379 Kourou, France, Email: alain.dejean@wanadoo.fr |
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0028-1042 |
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ISI:000282094100006 |
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EcoFoG @ eric.marcon @ |
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77 |
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Dejean, A.; Grangier, J.; Leroy, C.; Orivel, J. |
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Title |
Predation and aggressiveness in host plant protection: a generalization using ants from the genus Azteca |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
2009 |
Publication |
Naturwissenschaften |
Abbreviated Journal |
Naturwissenschaften |
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Volume |
96 |
Issue |
1 |
Pages |
57-63 |
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Keywords |
Aggressiveness; Ant-plant relationships; Biotic defence; Predation |
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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. |
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[Dejean, Alain; Leroy, Celine] CNRS, UMR Ecol Forets Guyane 8172, F-97379 Kourou, France, Email: alain.dejean@wanadoo.fr |
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0028-1042 |
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ISI:000261791000006 |
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EcoFoG @ eric.marcon @ |
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125 |
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Grangier, J.; Dejean, A.; Male, P.J.G.; Orivel, J. |
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Title |
Indirect defense in a highly specific ant-plant mutualism |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2008 |
Publication |
Naturwissenschaften |
Abbreviated Journal |
Naturwissenschaften |
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Volume |
95 |
Issue |
10 |
Pages |
909-916 |
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Keywords |
Allomerus decemarticulatus; Hirtella physophora; indirect defense; myrmecophytes; optimal defense theory |
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Although associations between myrmecophytes and their plant ants are recognized as a particularly effective form of protective mutualism, their functioning remains incompletely understood. This field study examined the ant-plant Hirtella physophora and its obligate ant associate Allomerus decemarticulatus. We formulated two hypotheses on the highly specific nature of this association: (1) Ant presence should be correlated with a marked reduction in the amount of herbivory on the plant foliage; (2) ant activity should be consistent with the “optimal defense” theory predicting that the most vulnerable and valuable parts of the plant are the best defended. We validated the first hypothesis by demonstrating that for ant-excluded plants, expanding leaves, but also newly matured ones in the long term, suffered significantly more herbivore damage than ant-inhabited plants. We showed that A. decemarticulatus workers represent both constitutive and inducible defenses for their host, by patrolling its foliage and rapidly recruiting nestmates to foliar wounds. On examining how these activities change according to the leaves' developmental stage, we found that the number of patrolling ants dramatically decreased as the leaves matured, while leaf wounds induced ant recruitment regardless of the leaf's age. The resulting level of these indirect defenses was roughly proportional to leaf vulnerability and value during its development, thus validating our second hypothesis predicting optimal protection. This led us to discuss the factors influencing ant activity on the plant's surface. Our study emphasizes the importance of studying both the constitutive and inducible components of indirect defense when evaluating its efficacy and optimality. |
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[Grangier, Julien; Dejean, Alain; Male, Pierre-Jean G.; Orivel, Jerome] Univ Toulouse 3, Lab Evolut & Diversite Biol, CNRS, UMR 5174, F-31062 Toulouse 9, France, Email: grangier@cict.fr |
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0028-1042 |
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ISI:000259737600002 |
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EcoFoG @ eric.marcon @ |
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207 |
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LaPierre, L.; Hespenheide, H.; Dejean, A. |
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Title |
Wasps robbing food from ants: a frequent behavior? |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2007 |
Publication |
Naturwissenschaften |
Abbreviated Journal |
Naturwissenschaften |
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Volume |
94 |
Issue |
12 |
Pages |
997-1001 |
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Keywords |
cleptobiosis; social wasps; charterginus; polybioides; plant-ants |
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Abstract |
Food robbing, or cleptobiosis, has been well documented throughout the animal kingdom. For insects, intrafamilial food robbing is known among ants, but social wasps (Vespidae; Polistinae) taking food from ants has, to the best of our knowledge, never been reported. In this paper, we present two cases involving social wasps robbing food from ants associated with myrmecophytes. (1) Polybioides tabida F. (Ropalidiini) rob pieces of prey from Tetraponera aethiops Smith (Formicidae; Pseudomyrmecinae) specifically associated with Barteria fistulosa Mast. (Passifloraceae). (2) Charterginus spp. (Epiponini) rob food bodies from myrmecophytic Cecropia (Cecropiaceae) exploited by their Azteca mutualists (Formicidae; Dolichoderinae) or by opportunistic ants (that also attack cleptobiotic wasps). We note here that wasps gather food bodies (1) when ants are not yet active; (2) when ants are active, but avoiding any contact with them by flying off when attacked; and (3) through the coordinated efforts of two to five wasps, wherein one of them prevents the ants from leaving their nest, while the other wasps freely gather the food bodies. We suggest that these interactions are more common than previously thought. |
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CNRS Guyane, UPS2561, UMR5174, F-97300 Cayenne, France, Email: llapierre@lowercolumbia.edu |
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0028-1042 |
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ISI:000250980800006 |
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no |
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EcoFoG @ eric.marcon @ |
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153 |
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Dejean, A.; Grangier, J.; Leroy, C.; Orivel, J.; Gilbernau, M. |
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Title |
Nest site selection and induced response in a dominant arboreal ant species |
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Journal Article |
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2008 |
Publication |
Naturwissenschaften |
Abbreviated Journal |
Naturwissenschaften |
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Volume |
95 |
Issue |
9 |
Pages |
885-889 |
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Keywords |
ant-plant relationships; biotic defense; induced responses; predation |
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It is well known that arboreal ants, both territorially dominant species and plant ants (e.g., species associated with myrmecophytes or plants housing them in hollow structures), protect their host trees from defoliators. Nevertheless, the presence of an induced defense, suggested by the fact that the workers discovering a leaf wound recruit nestmates, is only known for plant ants. Based on the results from a field study, we show here (1) that colonies of Azteca chartifex, a territorially dominant, neotropical arboreal ant species, mostly selected Goupia glabra (Goupiaceae) trees in which to build their principal carton nests and (2) that plant signals induced workers to recruit nestmates, which patrol the leaves, likely providing the plant with a biotic defense. Furthermore, the number of recruited workers was clearly higher on G. glabra, their most frequently selected host tree species, than on other tree species. These results show that contrary to what was previously believed, induced responses are also found in territorially dominant arboreal ants and so are not limited to the specific associations between myrmecophytes and plant ants. |
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[Dejean, Alain] CNRS Guyane, UPS 5621, F-97300 Cayenne, France, Email: alain.dejean@wanadoo.fr |
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0028-1042 |
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ISI:000258675700013 |
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no |
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EcoFoG @ eric.marcon @ |
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209 |
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Sobotnik, J.; Sillam-Dusses, D.; Weyda, F.; Dejean, A.; Roisin, Y.; Hanus, R.; Bourguignon, T. |
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Title |
The frontal gland in workers of Neotropical soldierless termites |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2010 |
Publication |
Naturwissenschaften |
Abbreviated Journal |
Naturwissenschaften |
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97 |
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5 |
Pages |
495-503 |
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Frontal gland; Workers; Soldierless termites; Apicotermitinae; Anoplotermes; Aparatermes |
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The presence of the frontal gland is well established in termite soldiers of Rhinotermitidae, Serritermitidae, and Termitidae. It is one of their main defensive adaptations or even an exclusive weapon. The gland was also occasionally reported in alate imagoes, but never in the worker caste. Here, we report the first observation of a frontal gland in workers of several Neotropical and one African species of Apicotermitinae. The ultrastructure of Aparatermes cingulatus and Anoplotermes nr. subterraneus is described in detail. In these two species, the gland is well-developed, functional and consists of class 1 secretory cells. The presence of envelope cells, wrapping the gland, is an unusual feature, as well as the presence of several zonulae adherens, connecting neighbouring glandular cells. The frontal gland of workers is homologous to this organ in soldiers and imagoes, as evidenced by the same position in the head and its connection to the same muscle. However, the defensive role of the frontal gland in workers remains to be confirmed. |
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[Sobotnik, Jan; Sillam-Dusses, David; Hanus, Robert] Acad Sci Czech Republic, Inst Organ Chem & Biochem, Res Team Infochem, CR-16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic, Email: robert@uochb.cas.cz |
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0028-1042 |
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ISI:000277318800007 |
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no |
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EcoFoG @ webmaster @ |
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285 |
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Dejean, A.; Corbara, B.; Azémar, F.; Carpenter, J.M. |
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Title |
When attempts at robbing prey turn fatal |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2012 |
Publication |
Naturwissenschaften |
Abbreviated Journal |
Naturwissenschaften |
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Volume |
99 |
Issue |
7 |
Pages |
579-582 |
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Keywords |
Ant predation; Azteca andreae; Cleptobiosis; Flies and dung beetles; Myrmecophyte; Reduviidae; Socialwasps; Stinglessbees |
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Abstract |
Because group-hunting arboreal ants spread-eagle insect prey for a long time before retrieving them, these prey can be coveted by predatory flying insects. Yet, attempting to rob these prey is risky if the ant species is also an effective predator. Here, we show that trying to rob prey from Azteca andreae workers is a fatal error as 268 out of 276 potential cleptobionts (97.1 %) were captured in turn. The ant workers hunt in a group and use the “Velcro®” principle to cling firmly to the leaves of their host tree, permitting them to capture very large prey. Exceptions were one social wasp, plus some Trigona spp. workers and flies that landed directly on the prey and were able to take off immediately when attacked. We conclude that in this situation, previously captured prey attract potential cleptobionts that are captured in turn in most of the cases. © Springer-Verlag 2012. |
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Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024, United States |
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00281042 (Issn) |
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Export Date: 30 July 2012; Source: Scopus; Coden: Natwa; doi: 10.1007/s00114-012-0929-x; Language of Original Document: English; Correspondence Address: Dejean, A.; CNRS, Écologie des Forêts de Guyane (UMR-CNRS 8172), Campus agronomique, BP 316, 97379 Kourou cedex, France; email: alain.dejean@wanadoo.fr |
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EcoFoG @ webmaster @ |
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417 |
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Dejean, A.; Carpenter, J.M.; Corbara, B.; Wright, P.; Roux, O.; LaPierre, L.M. |
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The hunter becomes the hunted: When cleptobiotic insects are captured by their target ants |
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Journal Article |
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2012 |
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Naturwissenschaften |
Abbreviated Journal |
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99 |
Issue |
4 |
Pages |
265-273 |
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Ant predation; Cleptobiosis; Flies and Reduviidae; Myrmecophyte; Social wasps; Stingless bees |
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Here we show that trying to rob prey (cleptobiosis) from a highly specialized predatory ant species is risky. To capture prey, Allomerus decemarticulatus workers build gallery-shaped traps on the stems of their associated myrmecophyte, Hirtella physophora. We wondered whether the frequent presence of immobilized prey on the trap attracted flying cleptoparasites. Nine social wasp species nest in the H. physophora foliage; of the six species studied, only Angiopolybia pallens rob prey from Allomerus colonies. For those H. physophora not sheltering wasps, we noted cleptobiosis by stingless bees (Trigona), social wasps (A. pallens and five Agelaia species), assassin bugs (Reduviidae), and flies. A relationship between the size of the robbers and their rate of capture by ambushing Allomerus workers was established for social wasps; small wasps were easily captured, while the largest never were. Reduviids, which are slow to extract their rostrum from prey, were always captured, while Trigona and flies often escaped. The balance sheet for the ants was positive vis-à-vis the reduviids and four out of the six social wasp species. For the latter, wasps began by cutting up parts of the prey's abdomen and were captured (or abandoned the prey) before the entire abdomen was retrieved so that the total weight of the captured wasps exceeded that of the prey abdomens. For A. pallens, we show that the number of individuals captured during attempts at cleptobiosis increases with the size of the Allomerus' prey. © Springer-Verlag 2012. |
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Department of Biology, Lower Columbia College, 1600 Maple St., Longview, WA 98632, United States |
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Cited By (since 1996): 1; Export Date: 16 January 2013; Source: Scopus |
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EcoFoG @ webmaster @ |
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458 |
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Dejean, A.; Revel, M.; Azémar, F.; Roux, O. |
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Title |
Altruism during predation in an assassin bug |
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Journal Article |
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2013 |
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Naturwissenschaften |
Abbreviated Journal |
Naturwissenschaften |
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Volume |
100 |
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10 |
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913-922 |
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Conspecific tolerance; Predation; Prey sharing; Reduviidae; Zelus annulosus |
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Zelus annulosus is an assassin bug species mostly noted on Hirtella physophora, a myrmecophyte specifically associated with the ant Allomerus decemarticulatus known to build traps on host tree twigs to ambush insect preys. The Z. annulosus females lay egg clutches protected by a sticky substance. To avoid being trapped, the first three instars of nymphs remain grouped in a clutch beneath the leaves on which they hatched, yet from time to time, they climb onto the upper side to group ambush preys. Long-distance prey detection permits these bugs to capture flying or jumping insects that alight on their leaves. Like some other Zelus species, the sticky substance of the sundew setae on their forelegs aids in prey capture. Group ambushing permits early instars to capture insects that they then share or not depending on prey size and the hunger of the successful nymphs. Fourth and fifth instars, with greater needs, rather ambush solitarily on different host tree leaves, but attract siblings to share large preys. Communal feeding permits faster prey consumption, enabling small nymphs to return sooner to the shelter of their leaves. By improving the regularity of feeding for each nymph, it likely regulates nymphal development, synchronizing molting and subsequently limiting cannibalism. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. |
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IRD, Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs, Ecologie, Genetique, Evolution et Controle (UMR-IRD 224), IRD 01, BP 171, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso |
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Export Date: 30 October 2013; Source: Scopus; Coden: Natwa; doi: 10.1007/s00114-013-1091-9; Language of Original Document: English; Correspondence Address: Dejean, A.; Écologie des Forêts de Guyane, Campus Agronomique, BP 316, 97379 Kourou cedex, France; email: alain.dejean@wanadoo.fr |
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EcoFoG @ webmaster @ |
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508 |
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Dejean, A.; Labrière, N.; Touchard, A.; Petitclerc, F.; Roux, O. |
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Nesting habits shape feeding preferences and predatory behavior in an ant genus |
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Journal Article |
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2014 |
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Naturwissenschaften |
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Naturwissenschaften |
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101 |
Issue |
4 |
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323-330 |
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Ant genus Pseudomyrmex; Arboreal and ground nesting; Feeding preferences; Myrmecophytism; Predation |
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We tested if nesting habits influence ant feeding preferences and predatory behavior in the monophyletic genus Pseudomyrmex (Pseudomyrmecinae) which comprises terrestrial and arboreal species, and, among the latter, plant-ants which are obligate inhabitants of myrmecophytes (i.e., plants sheltering so-called plant-ants in hollow structures). A cafeteria experiment revealed that the diet of ground-nesting Pseudomyrmex consists mostly of prey and that of arboreal species consists mostly of sugary substances, whereas the plant-ants discarded all the food we provided. Workers forage solitarily, detecting prey from a distance thanks to their hypertrophied eyes. Approach is followed by antennal contact, seizure, and the manipulation of the prey to sting it under its thorax (next to the ventral nerve cord). Arboreal species were not more efficient at capturing prey than were ground-nesting species. A large worker size favors prey capture. Workers from ground- and arboreal-nesting species show several uncommon behavioral traits, each known in different ant genera from different subfamilies: leaping abilities, the use of surface tension strengths to transport liquids, short-range recruitment followed by conflicts between nestmates, the consumption of the prey's hemolymph, and the retrieval of entire prey or pieces of prey after having cut it up. Yet, we never noted group ambushing. We also confirmed that Pseudomyrmex plant-ants live in a kind of food autarky as they feed only on rewards produced by their host myrmecophyte, or on honeydew produced by the hemipterans they attend and possibly on the fungi they cultivate. © 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. |
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IRD, MIVEGEC (IRD 224-CNRS 5290-UM1-UM2), Équipe BEES, 911 avenue Agropolis, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France |
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Springer Verlag |
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00281042 (Issn) |
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Export Date: 5 May 2014; Source: Scopus; Coden: Natwa; Language of Original Document: English; Correspondence Address: Dejean, A.; CNRS, Écologie des Forêts de Guyane (UMR-CNRS 8172), Campus Agronomique, BP 316, 97379 Kourou cedex, France; email: alain.dejean@wanadoo.fr |
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EcoFoG @ webmaster @ |
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539 |
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