Extrafloral nectar as entrée and elaiosomes as main course for ant visitors to a fireprone, mediterranean‐climate shrub
Abstract Thousands of plants produce both extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) on their leaves and nutrient‐rich appendages on their diaspores (elaiosomes). Although their individual ecology is well‐known, any possible functional link between these structures has almost always been ignored. Here, we recogni...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9500 |
| _version_ | 1797986631853015040 |
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| author | Byron B. Lamont James Grey |
| author_facet | Byron B. Lamont James Grey |
| author_sort | Byron B. Lamont |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Thousands of plants produce both extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) on their leaves and nutrient‐rich appendages on their diaspores (elaiosomes). Although their individual ecology is well‐known, any possible functional link between these structures has almost always been ignored. Here, we recognized their co‐presence in the shrub, Adenanthos cygnorum (Proteaceae), and studied their function and interaction. We observed that the same ants frequently visit both structures, seeds are attractive to vertebrate granivores but are released into a leafy cup from where they are harvested by ants and taken to their nests, from which seeds, lacking elaiosomes, germinate after fire. We showed that juvenile plants do not produce EFNs and are not visited by ants. We conclude that EFNs are not just an indirect adaptation to minimize herbivory via aggressive ant visitors (the role of a minority) but specifically enhance reproductive success in two ways: First, by inducing ants to visit the plant as a reliable food source throughout the year. Second, by promoting discovery of the seasonally available, elaiosome‐bearing seeds for transport to their nests (the majority of visitors), so avoiding the risk of granivory should seeds instead fall to the ground. Parasitoid wasps play a supporting role in controlling the main insect herbivore whose larvae devour the reproductive apices. Thus, the EFN‐elaiosome relationship has three components that enhance species fitness: foliage protection, seed transport, and granivore escape. A similar system has been described only once before (in an unrelated biome) and, consistent with the objectives of ecology as an integrative science, deserves wider study. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T07:36:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-357b74dd9b37423b8fadc00a5c801899 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T07:36:09Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-357b74dd9b37423b8fadc00a5c8018992022-12-22T04:36:44ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582022-11-011211n/an/a10.1002/ece3.9500Extrafloral nectar as entrée and elaiosomes as main course for ant visitors to a fireprone, mediterranean‐climate shrubByron B. Lamont0James Grey1Ecology Section, School of Life and Molecular Sciences Curtin University Perth Western Australia AustraliaEcology Section, School of Life and Molecular Sciences Curtin University Perth Western Australia AustraliaAbstract Thousands of plants produce both extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) on their leaves and nutrient‐rich appendages on their diaspores (elaiosomes). Although their individual ecology is well‐known, any possible functional link between these structures has almost always been ignored. Here, we recognized their co‐presence in the shrub, Adenanthos cygnorum (Proteaceae), and studied their function and interaction. We observed that the same ants frequently visit both structures, seeds are attractive to vertebrate granivores but are released into a leafy cup from where they are harvested by ants and taken to their nests, from which seeds, lacking elaiosomes, germinate after fire. We showed that juvenile plants do not produce EFNs and are not visited by ants. We conclude that EFNs are not just an indirect adaptation to minimize herbivory via aggressive ant visitors (the role of a minority) but specifically enhance reproductive success in two ways: First, by inducing ants to visit the plant as a reliable food source throughout the year. Second, by promoting discovery of the seasonally available, elaiosome‐bearing seeds for transport to their nests (the majority of visitors), so avoiding the risk of granivory should seeds instead fall to the ground. Parasitoid wasps play a supporting role in controlling the main insect herbivore whose larvae devour the reproductive apices. Thus, the EFN‐elaiosome relationship has three components that enhance species fitness: foliage protection, seed transport, and granivore escape. A similar system has been described only once before (in an unrelated biome) and, consistent with the objectives of ecology as an integrative science, deserves wider study.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9500Adenanthoselaiosomeextrafloral nectaryFabaceaeIridomyrmexMediterranean climate |
| spellingShingle | Byron B. Lamont James Grey Extrafloral nectar as entrée and elaiosomes as main course for ant visitors to a fireprone, mediterranean‐climate shrub Ecology and Evolution Adenanthos elaiosome extrafloral nectary Fabaceae Iridomyrmex Mediterranean climate |
| title | Extrafloral nectar as entrée and elaiosomes as main course for ant visitors to a fireprone, mediterranean‐climate shrub |
| title_full | Extrafloral nectar as entrée and elaiosomes as main course for ant visitors to a fireprone, mediterranean‐climate shrub |
| title_fullStr | Extrafloral nectar as entrée and elaiosomes as main course for ant visitors to a fireprone, mediterranean‐climate shrub |
| title_full_unstemmed | Extrafloral nectar as entrée and elaiosomes as main course for ant visitors to a fireprone, mediterranean‐climate shrub |
| title_short | Extrafloral nectar as entrée and elaiosomes as main course for ant visitors to a fireprone, mediterranean‐climate shrub |
| title_sort | extrafloral nectar as entree and elaiosomes as main course for ant visitors to a fireprone mediterranean climate shrub |
| topic | Adenanthos elaiosome extrafloral nectary Fabaceae Iridomyrmex Mediterranean climate |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9500 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT byronblamont extrafloralnectarasentreeandelaiosomesasmaincourseforantvisitorstoafirepronemediterraneanclimateshrub AT jamesgrey extrafloralnectarasentreeandelaiosomesasmaincourseforantvisitorstoafirepronemediterraneanclimateshrub |