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Author (up) Cereghino, R.; Leroy, C.; Dejean, A.; Corbara, B. openurl 
  Title Ants mediate the structure of phytotelm communities in an ant-garden bromeliad Type Journal Article
  Year 2010 Publication Ecology Abbreviated Journal Ecology  
  Volume 91 Issue 5 Pages 1549-1556  
  Keywords Aechmea mertensii; ant-gardens; biodiversity; bromeliads; Camponotus femoratus; Crematogaster levior; macroinvertebrates; mutualism; Pachycondyla goeldii; phytotelmata; secondary forest; Sinnamary; French Guiana; species interactions  
  Abstract The main theories explaining the biological diversity of rain forests often confer a limited understanding of the contribution of interspecific interactions to the observed patterns. We show how two-species mutualisms can affect much larger segments of the invertebrate community in tropical rain forests. Aechmea mertensii (Bromeliaceae) is both a phytotelm (plant-held water) and an ant-garden epiphyte. We studied the influence of its. associated ant species (Pachycondyla goeldii and Camponotus femoratus) on the physical characteristics of the plants, and, subsequently, on the diversity of the invertebrate communities that inhabit their tanks. As dispersal agents for the bromeliads, P. goeldii and C. femoratus influence the shape and size of the bromeliad by determining the location of the seedling, from exposed to partially shaded areas. By coexisting on a local scale, the two ant species generate a gradient of habitat conditions in terms of available resources (space and food) for aquatic invertebrates, the diversity of the invertebrate communities increasing with greater volumes of water and fine detritus. Two-species mutualisms are widespread in nature, but their influence on the diversity of entire communities remains largely unexplored. Because macroinvertebrates constitute an important part of animal production in all ecosystem types, further investigations should address the functional implications of such indirect effects.  
  Address [Cereghino, Regis] Univ Toulouse, UPS, INPT, Lab Ecol Fonct,EcoLab, F-31062 Toulouse, France, Email: cereghin@cict.fr  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher ECOLOGICAL SOC AMER Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0012-9658 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes ISI:000277867600030 Approved no  
  Call Number EcoFoG @ eric.marcon @ Serial 59  
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