Coexistence of Aphid Predators in Cacao Plants: Does Ant-aphid Mutualism Play a Role?
Mutualism between ants and hemipterans that produce honeydew has important implications for biological control because hemipterans defended against predators can reach economic injury levels. We tested the hypothesis that ant-aphid mutualism can mediate competition and promote the coexistence of aph...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana
2013-11-01
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| Series: | Sociobiology |
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| Online Access: | http://periodicos.uefs.br/ojs/index.php/sociobiology/article/view/196 |
| _version_ | 1818684991097274368 |
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| author | Evandro do Nascimento Silva Ivette Perfecto |
| author_facet | Evandro do Nascimento Silva Ivette Perfecto |
| author_sort | Evandro do Nascimento Silva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mutualism between ants and hemipterans that produce honeydew has important implications for biological control because hemipterans defended against predators can reach economic injury levels. We tested the hypothesis that ant-aphid mutualism can mediate competition and promote the coexistence of aphid natural enemies. A quadrate in the field measuring 30 x 30 meters (10 plants in 10 rows = 100 plants) was established in a cacao plantation and a whole quadrate survey was carried out in vegetative shoot flushings from the trunk. The number of ants and predators, the identity of ant and natural enemy species and colony occupancy by ants were recorded. Spatial association indexes were used to evaluate the degree of overlap in ant-ant and ant-predator spatial distributions. The ant <em>Crematogaster victima</em> F. Smith was selected for a test on differences in its attack behavior against larvae of the syrphid <em>Ocyptamus antiphates</em> (Walker) and a species of ladybird beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinelidae). Five species of ants were found tending aphids more frequently and their level of spatial association was slightly negative with remarkable mutual exclusion from aphid colonies. Two of them, <em>Cr. victima</em> and <em>Cr. erecta</em> Mayr, were potential defendants of aphids and were selected to study their spatial association with the distribution of natural enemies. It was found that spatial association between ants and aphid predators is slightly positive. The results suggest that the occurrence of attack behavior of <em>Cr. victima</em> against syrphids, but not against coccinellids, can increase coexistence of predators by generating independent spatial distribution. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T10:59:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cbbb80c6555d4b94ba3513ba7a5daf60 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0361-6525 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T10:59:25Z |
| publishDate | 2013-11-01 |
| publisher | Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sociobiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-cbbb80c6555d4b94ba3513ba7a5daf602022-12-21T21:51:45ZengUniversidade Estadual de Feira de SantanaSociobiology0361-65252013-11-0160325926510.13102/sociobiology.v60i3.259-265135Coexistence of Aphid Predators in Cacao Plants: Does Ant-aphid Mutualism Play a Role?Evandro do Nascimento Silva0Ivette Perfecto1Universidade Estadual de Feira de SantanaUniversity of MichiganMutualism between ants and hemipterans that produce honeydew has important implications for biological control because hemipterans defended against predators can reach economic injury levels. We tested the hypothesis that ant-aphid mutualism can mediate competition and promote the coexistence of aphid natural enemies. A quadrate in the field measuring 30 x 30 meters (10 plants in 10 rows = 100 plants) was established in a cacao plantation and a whole quadrate survey was carried out in vegetative shoot flushings from the trunk. The number of ants and predators, the identity of ant and natural enemy species and colony occupancy by ants were recorded. Spatial association indexes were used to evaluate the degree of overlap in ant-ant and ant-predator spatial distributions. The ant <em>Crematogaster victima</em> F. Smith was selected for a test on differences in its attack behavior against larvae of the syrphid <em>Ocyptamus antiphates</em> (Walker) and a species of ladybird beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinelidae). Five species of ants were found tending aphids more frequently and their level of spatial association was slightly negative with remarkable mutual exclusion from aphid colonies. Two of them, <em>Cr. victima</em> and <em>Cr. erecta</em> Mayr, were potential defendants of aphids and were selected to study their spatial association with the distribution of natural enemies. It was found that spatial association between ants and aphid predators is slightly positive. The results suggest that the occurrence of attack behavior of <em>Cr. victima</em> against syrphids, but not against coccinellids, can increase coexistence of predators by generating independent spatial distribution.http://periodicos.uefs.br/ojs/index.php/sociobiology/article/view/196arboreal antsbiological controlant-natural enemies interactionsspatial associationToxoptera aurantii |
| spellingShingle | Evandro do Nascimento Silva Ivette Perfecto Coexistence of Aphid Predators in Cacao Plants: Does Ant-aphid Mutualism Play a Role? Sociobiology arboreal ants biological control ant-natural enemies interactions spatial association Toxoptera aurantii |
| title | Coexistence of Aphid Predators in Cacao Plants: Does Ant-aphid Mutualism Play a Role? |
| title_full | Coexistence of Aphid Predators in Cacao Plants: Does Ant-aphid Mutualism Play a Role? |
| title_fullStr | Coexistence of Aphid Predators in Cacao Plants: Does Ant-aphid Mutualism Play a Role? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Coexistence of Aphid Predators in Cacao Plants: Does Ant-aphid Mutualism Play a Role? |
| title_short | Coexistence of Aphid Predators in Cacao Plants: Does Ant-aphid Mutualism Play a Role? |
| title_sort | coexistence of aphid predators in cacao plants does ant aphid mutualism play a role |
| topic | arboreal ants biological control ant-natural enemies interactions spatial association Toxoptera aurantii |
| url | http://periodicos.uefs.br/ojs/index.php/sociobiology/article/view/196 |
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