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Author  |
Grangier, J.; Dejean, A.; Male, P.J.G.; Solano, P.J.; Orivel, J. |
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Title |
Mechanisms driving the specificity of a myrmecophyte-ant association |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2009 |
Publication |
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society |
Abbreviated Journal |
Biol. J. Linnean Soc. |
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Volume |
97 |
Issue |
1 |
Pages |
90-97 |
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Keywords |
Allomerus decemarticulatus; exclusion filters; Hirtella physophora; horizontal transmission; host recognition; mutualism |
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Abstract |
In the understory of pristine Guianese forests, the myrmecophyte Hirtella physophora almost exclusively shelters colonies of the plant-ant Allomerus decemarticulatus in its leaf pouches. We experimentally tested three non-mutually exclusive hypotheses concerning phenomena that can determine the species specificity of this association throughout the foundation stage of the colonies: (1) interspecific competition results in the overwhelming presence of A. decemarticulatus queens or incipient colonies; (2) exclusion filters prevent other ant species from entering the leaf pouches; and (3) host-recognition influences the choice of founding queens, especially A. decemarticulatus. Neither interspecific competition, nor the purported exclusion filters that we examined play a major role in maintaining the specificity of this association. Unexpectedly, the plant trichomes lining the domatia appear to serve as construction material during claustral foundation rather than as a filter. Finally, A. decemarticulatus queens are able to identify their host plant from a distance through chemical and/or visual cues, which is rarely demonstrated in studies on obligatory ant-plant associations. We discuss the possibility that this specific host-recognition ability could participate in shaping a compartmentalized plant-ant community where direct competition between ant symbionts is limited. (C) 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 97, 90-97. |
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Address |
[Grangier, Julien; Male, Pierre-Jean G.; Orivel, Jerome] Univ Toulouse 3, Lab Evolut & Divers Biol, CNRS, UMR 5174, F-31062 Toulouse 9, France, Email: grangier@cict.fr |
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WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC |
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ISSN |
0024-4066 |
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Notes |
ISI:000265406800008 |
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Call Number |
EcoFoG @ eric.marcon @ |
Serial |
114 |
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