@Article{Dejean_etal2008,
author="Dejean, A.
and Grangier, J.
and Leroy, C.
and Orivel, J.",
title="Host plant protection by arboreal ants: looking for a pattern in locally induced responses",
journal="Evolutionary Ecology Research",
year="2008",
publisher="EVOLUTIONARY ECOLOGY LTD",
volume="10",
number="8",
pages="1217--1223",
optkeywords="aggressiveness",
optkeywords="ant-plant relationships",
optkeywords="Azteca",
optkeywords="biotic defence",
optkeywords="induced responses",
abstract="Background: Among 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 against defoliators. Yet, locally induced responses, or the recruitment of nest-mates when a worker discovers it wound on its host-tree, were only noted in plant-ants. We wondered whether this might be due to the examination of the phenomenon being restricted to only six plant-ant species belonging to four genera. Based on the ant genus Azteca, a Neotropical group of arboreal species, we compared five species. The territorially dominant, carton-nester A. chartifex, three plant-ant species [A. alfari and A. ovaticeps associated with myrmecophitic Cecropia (Cecropiaceae), and A. bequaerti associated with Tococa guianensis (Melastomataceae)], and A. schimperi thought to be a temporary social parasite of true Cecropia ants. Methods: We artificially inflicted wounds to the foliage of the host tree of the different ant species. We then compared the number of workers on wounded versus control leaves. Results: We noted a locally induced response in the three plant-ant species as well as in the territorially dominant species, but very slightly so in A. schimperi.",
optnote="ISI:000264041000008",
optnote="exported from refbase (http://php.ecofog.gf/refbase/show.php?record=119), last updated on Wed, 04 May 2011 11:11:22 -0300",
issn="1522-0613"
}