| Title |
Indirect effects of mutualism: ant–treehopper associations deter pollinators and reduce reproduction in a tropical shrub
|
|---|---|
| Published in |
Oecologia, December 2017
|
| DOI | 10.1007/s00442-017-4045-7 |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Authors |
Javier Ibarra-Isassi, Paulo S. Oliveira |
| Abstract |
Animal-pollinated plants can be susceptible to changes in pollinator availability. Honeydew-producing treehoppers frequently occur on inflorescences, potentially enhancing ant-mediated negative effects on pollination services. However, the effect of ant-attended, honeydew-producing insects on plant reproduction remains uncertain. We recorded the abundance of treehoppers and ants on Byrsonima intermedia (Malpighiaceae), and monitored floral visitors in a Brazilian cerrado savanna. We manipulated the presence of ants and ant-treehopper associations on inflorescences to assess their effect on pollination and fruit formation. We used dried ants pinned to inflorescences to evaluate the effect of ant presence and ant identity on potential pollinators. Results show that the presence of treehoppers increases ant abundance on flowers and disrupts pollination by oil-collecting bees, decreasing the frequency and duration of floral visits and reducing fruit and seed set. Treehopper herbivory has no direct effect on fruit or seed production, which are independent of treehopper density. Pinned ants promote avoidance by floral visitors, reducing the number of visits. Ant identity mediates visitation decisions, with Ectatomma brunneum causing greater avoidance by floral visitors than Camponotus rufipes. Field videos show that pollinating bees are harassed by ants near flowers, prompting avoidance behavior by the bees. This is the first demonstration of indirect effects by honeydew-gathering ants, via disrupted pollination, on plant reproduction in tropical cerrado savanna. Our results highlight the importance of studying other interactions near flowers, in addition to just observing pollinators, for a proper understanding of plant reproduction. |
X Demographics
The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 3 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 1 | 33% |
| Unknown | 2 | 67% |
Demographic breakdown
| Type | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the public | 3 | 100% |
Mendeley readers
The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 90 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 90 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Student > Master | 19 | 21% |
| Researcher | 12 | 13% |
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 12 | 13% |
| Student > Bachelor | 11 | 12% |
| Student > Doctoral Student | 5 | 6% |
| Other | 10 | 11% |
| Unknown | 21 | 23% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 41 | 46% |
| Environmental Science | 10 | 11% |
| Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 6 | 7% |
| Arts and Humanities | 2 | 2% |
| Unspecified | 2 | 2% |
| Other | 6 | 7% |
| Unknown | 23 | 26% |
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 2. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 05 March 2018.
All research outputs
#15,161,770
of 23,517,535 outputs
Outputs from Oecologia
#3,195
of 4,283 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#253,151
of 442,217 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Oecologia
#46
of 65 outputs
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