Urban ants and plants: Ant visitation to extrafloral nectaries and antiherbivore defense?

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne Koptur
Keyword(s):  
Extrafloral Nectaries ◽  
Antiherbivore Defense

Turnera fasciculifolia (Turneraceae, Passifloraceae s. l.): A New Species From the Jalapão Region, Tocantins, Brazil

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 833-838
Author(s):  
Lamarck Rocha ◽  
Patrícia Luz Ribeiro ◽  
Maria Mercedes Arbo
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Extrafloral Nectaries ◽  
Distribution Map ◽  
Central Brazil ◽  
Axillary Branches ◽  
Revolute Margin ◽  
A New Species

Abstract—We present a new species, Turnera fasciculifolia, from the Jalapão region, the largest continuous protected area of Cerrado in Tocantins State, in central Brazil. The new species belongs to Turnera series Leiocarpae, and it can be recognized by the linear ericoid leaves with revolute margin, generally without extrafloral nectaries, and the basal leaves of the young axillary branches gathered in fascicles. We provide a description, illustrations, a distribution map, and a comparison with T. genistoides and T. revoluta, which also have ericoid leaves.

scholarly journals Growing up aspen: ontogeny and trade-offs shape growth, defence and reproduction in a foundation species

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher T Cole ◽  
Clay J Morrow ◽  
Hilary L Barker ◽  
Kennedy F Rubert-Nason ◽  
Jennifer F L Riehl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intraspecific Variation ◽  
Genotypic Variation ◽  
Chemical Defence ◽  
Extrafloral Nectaries ◽  
Foundation Species ◽  
Community Genetics ◽  
Indirect Defence ◽  
Juvenile Period ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Sex Marker

Abstract Background and Aims Intraspecific variation in foundation species of forest ecosystems can shape community and ecosystem properties, particularly when that variation has a genetic basis. Traits mediating interactions with other species are predicted by simple allocation models to follow ontogenetic patterns that are rarely studied in trees. The aim of this research was to identify the roles of genotype, ontogeny and genotypic trade-offs shaping growth, defence and reproduction in aspen. Methods We established a common garden replicating >500 aspen genets in Wisconsin, USA. Trees were measured through the juvenile period into the onset of reproduction, for growth, defence chemistry (phenolic glycosides and condensed tannins), nitrogen, extrafloral nectaries, leaf morphology (specific leaf area), flower production and foliar herbivory and disease. We also assayed the TOZ19 sex marker and heterozygosity at ten microsatellite loci. Key Results We found high levels of genotypic variation for all traits, and high heritabilities for both the traits and their ontogenetic trajectories. Ontogeny strongly shaped intraspecific variation, and trade-offs among growth, defence and reproduction supported some predictions while contradicting others. Both direct resistance (chemical defence) and indirect defence (extrafloral nectaries) declined during the juvenile stage, prior to the onset of reproduction. Reproduction was higher in trees that were larger, male and had higher individual heterozygosity. Growth was diminished by genotypic allocation to both direct and indirect defence as well as to reproduction, but we found no evidence of trade-offs between defence and reproduction. Conclusions Key traits affecting the ecological communities of aspen have high levels of genotypic variation and heritability, strong patterns of ontogeny and clear trade-offs among growth, defence and reproduction. The architecture of aspen’s community genetics – its ontogeny, trade-offs and especially its great variability – is shaped by both its broad range and the diverse community of associates, and in turn further fosters that diversity.

scholarly journals Extrafloral Nectaries

1909 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-80
Keyword(s):  
Extrafloral Nectaries

scholarly journals Ant–plant interactions evolved through increasing interdependence

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (48) ◽  
pp. 12253-12258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew P. Nelsen ◽  
Richard H. Ree ◽  
Corrie S. Moreau
Keyword(s):  
Biotic Interactions ◽  
Extrafloral Nectaries ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Intermediate Step ◽  
Plant Interactions ◽  
Dietary Transition ◽  
Ecological Dominance

Ant–plant interactions are diverse and abundant and include classic models in the study of mutualism and other biotic interactions. By estimating a time-scaled phylogeny of more than 1,700 ant species and a time-scaled phylogeny of more than 10,000 plant genera, we infer when and how interactions between ants and plants evolved and assess their macroevolutionary consequences. We estimate that ant–plant interactions originated in the Mesozoic, when predatory, ground-inhabiting ants first began foraging arboreally. This served as an evolutionary precursor to the use of plant-derived food sources, a dietary transition that likely preceded the evolution of extrafloral nectaries and elaiosomes. Transitions to a strict, plant-derived diet occurred in the Cenozoic, and optimal models of shifts between strict predation and herbivory include omnivory as an intermediate step. Arboreal nesting largely evolved from arboreally foraging lineages relying on a partially or entirely plant-based diet, and was initiated in the Mesozoic, preceding the evolution of domatia. Previous work has suggested enhanced diversification in plants with specialized ant-associated traits, but it appears that for ants, living and feeding on plants does not affect ant diversification. Together, the evidence suggests that ants and plants increasingly relied on one another and incrementally evolved more intricate associations with different macroevolutionary consequences as angiosperms increased their ecological dominance.

Dopamine functions as an antiherbivore defense in the temperate green alga Ulvaria obscura

Oecologia ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 148 (2) ◽  
pp. 304-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn L. Van Alstyne ◽  
Amorah V. Nelson ◽  
James R. Vyvyan ◽  
Devon A. Cancilla
Keyword(s):  
Green Alga ◽  
Antiherbivore Defense

scholarly journals Attraction of flower visitors to plants that express indirect defence can minimize ecological costs of ant–pollinator conflicts

2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 555-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johnattan Hernández-Cumplido ◽  
Betty Benrey ◽  
Martin Heil
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Extrafloral Nectaries ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Extrafloral Nectar ◽  
Indirect Defence ◽  
Flower Visitors ◽  
Antagonistic Interactions

Thousands of plant species throughout tropical and temperate zones secrete extrafloral nectar (EFN) (see www.biosci.unl.edu/emeriti/keeler/extrafloral/worldlistfamilies.htm) to attract ants, whose presence leads to an indirect defence against herbivores (Chamberlain & Holland 2009, Heil 2008, Heil & McKey 2003, Rico-Gray & Oliveira 2007). Although termed ‘extrafloral’ because the nectar is not involved in pollination, EFN can also be secreted within the inflorescences (Bentley 1977, Holland et al. 2010, Martins 2009). Because ants tend to defend reliable food sources against all types of putative competitors, it has been hypothesized that the presence of extrafloral nectaries close to flowers may lead to competition among ants and pollinators, or even to direct ant–pollinator conflicts. Such antagonistic interactions would reduce the access of pollinators to flowers and, thereby, may cause significant ‘ecological costs’ of indirect, ant-mediated defences (Heil 2002).

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