Artículo
Ants indirectly reduce the reproductive performance of a leafless shrub by benefiting aphids through predator deterrence
Fecha de publicación:
12/2019
Editorial:
Springer
Revista:
Plant Ecology
ISSN:
1385-0237
Idioma:
Inglés
Tipo de recurso:
Artículo publicado
Clasificación temática:
Resumen
Ant–aphid mutualisms can generate cascade effects on the host plants, but these impacts depend on the ecological context. We studied the consequences of ant–aphid interactions on the reproductive performance of a Mediterranean leafless shrub (Retama sphaerocarpa), through direct and indirect effects on the arthropod community. By manipulating the presence of ants and aphids in the field, we found that ants increased aphid abundance and their persistence on the plant and reduced aphid predators by nearly half. However, the presence of ants did not affect the abundance of other plant herbivores, which were relatively scarce in the studied plants. Aphids, and particularly those tended by ants, had a negative impact on the plant reproductive performance by significantly reducing the number of fruits produced. However, fruit and seed traits were not changed by the presence of aphids or those tended by ants. We show that ants favoured aphids by protecting them from their natural enemies but did not indirectly benefit plants through herbivory suppression, resulting in a net negative impact on the plant reproductive performance. Our study suggests that the benefits obtained by plants from hosting ant–aphid mutualisms are dependent on the arthropod community and plant traits.
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Identificadores
Colecciones
Articulos(INCITAP)
Articulos de INST.D/CS D/L/TIERRA Y AMBIENTALES D/L/PAMPA
Articulos de INST.D/CS D/L/TIERRA Y AMBIENTALES D/L/PAMPA
Citación
Ortega Ramos, Patricia A.; Tomás Mezquida, Eduardo; Acebes, Pablo; Ants indirectly reduce the reproductive performance of a leafless shrub by benefiting aphids through predator deterrence; Springer; Plant Ecology; 221; 2; 12-2019; 91-101
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