Summary
Epiphyll growth on leaves of the grapefruit Citrus paradisi and the understory cyclanth Cyclanthus bipartitus repelled the fungus-growing, leafcutter ant Atta cephalotes from harvesting leaves of these tropical plants. Experimental removal of epiphylls from leaves resulted in 2–3 times more herbivore damage by leafcutter ants as compared to matched leaves with epiphylls. Because of the protection from herbivore damage, host plants may derive a partial fitness benefit from association with epiphylls.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bentley BL, Carpenter EJ (1980) The effects of dessication and rehydration on nitrogen fixation by epiphylls in a tropical rainforest. Microb Ecol 6:109–113
Bentley BL, Carpenter EJ (1984) Direct transfer of newly-fixed nitrogen from free-living epiphyllous microorganisms to their host plant. Oecologia 63:52–56
Berrie GK, Eze JMO (1975) The relationship between an epiphyllous liverwort and host leaves. Ann Bot 39:955–963
Bien A (1982) Substrate specificity of leafy liverworts (Hepaticae: Lejeuneaceae) in a Costa Rican rainforest. MA Thesis. State University of New York, Stony Brook
Cherrett JM (1972) Some factors involved in the selection of vegetable substrate by Atta cephalotes (L.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in tropical rain forest. J Anim Ecol 41:647–660
Cherrett JM, Jutsum AR (1982) The effects of some ant species, especially Atta cephalotes (L.), Acromyrmex octospinosus (Reich) and Azteca sp. (Hym. Form.) on citrus growing in Trinidad. In: Jaisson P (ed) Social Insects in the Tropics, vol 2. University of Paris Press, Paris, pp 155–163
Chopra RN, Kumra PK (1988) Biology of Bryophytes. J Wiley & Sons, New York, p 350
Gregory PH (1971) The leaf as a spore trap. In: Preece TF, Dickinson CH (eds) Ecology of Leaf Surface Micro-organisms. Academic Press, New York, pp 239–243
Howard JJ (1987) Leafcutting ant diet selection: The role of nutrients, water, and secondary chemistry. Ecology 68:503–515
Howard JJ (1988) Leafcutting and diet selection: Relative influence of leaf chemistry and physical features. Ecology 69:250–260
Howard JJ (1990) Infidelity of leafcutting ants to host plants: resource heterogeneity or defense induction? Oecologia 82:394–401
Howard JJ, Wiemer DF (1986) Chemical ecology of host plant selection by the leaf-cutting ant, Atta cephalotes. In: Lofgren CS, Vander Meer RK (eds) Fire Ants and Leaf-Cutting Ants, Biology and Management. Westview Press, Boulder, pp 260–273
Howard JJ, Cazin J, Wiemer DF (1988) Toxicity of terpenoid deterrents to the leafcutting ant Atta cephalotes and its mutualistic fungus. J Chem Ecol 14:59–69
Hubbell SP, Howard JJ, Wiemer DF (1984) Chemical leaf repellency to an attine ant: Seasonal distribution among potential host plant species. Ecology 65:1067–1076
Hubbell SP, Wiemer DF, Adejare A (1983) An antifungal terpenoid defends a neotropical tree (Hymenaea) against attack by fungusgrowing ants (Atta). Oecologia 60:321–327
Huneck S (1983) Chemistry and biochemistry of bryophytes. In: Schuster RM (ed) New Manual of Bryology, vol 1. The Hattori Botanical Laboratory, Nichinan, Miyazaki, pp 1–116
Lawrey JD (1986) Biological role of lichen substances. Bryol 89:111–122
Markham KR, Porter LJ (1978) Chemical constituents of the bryophytes. Prog Phytoch 5:181–272.
Nichols-Orians CM, Schultz JC (1989) Leaf toughness affects leaf harvesting by the leaf cutter ant Atta cephalotes (L.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Biotropica 21:80–83
Pócs T (1978) Epiphyllous communities and their distribution in East Africa. In: Suire C (ed) Congrés International de Bryologie, Bordeaux, France, 1977. Gantner Verlag, Vaduz, pp 681–713
Richards PW (1964) The Tropical Rain Forest, an Ecological Study. Cambridge University Press, London, p 450
Richards PW (1984) The ecology of tropical forest bryophytes. In: Schuster, RM (ed) New Manual of Bryology, vol 2. The Hattori Botanical Laboratory, Nichinan, Miyazaki, pp 1233–1270
Riedl H (1977) Micro-biocoenosis of Anthelia juratzkana. Bryol 80:332–334
Rundel PW (1978) The ecological role of secondary lichen substances. Biochem Syst Ecol 6:157–170
Smith AJE (1982) Bryophyte Ecology. Chapman and Hall, London, p 511
Waller DA (1982) Leaf-cutting ants and live oak: The role of leaf toughness in seasonal intraspecific host choice. Ent Exp Appl 32:146–150
Weber NA (1966) Fungus-growing ants. Science 153:587–604
Weber NA (1972) Gardening Ants: The Attines. American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, p 146
Wetterer JK (1988) Size-selective Foraging by Leaf-cutting Ants and Planktivorous Fish. PhD Thesis. University of Washington
Wetterer JK (1990) Diel changes in forager size, activity, and load selectivity in a tropical leaf-cutting ant, Atta cephalotes. Ecol Ent 15:97–104
Williams GC (1966) Adaptation and Natural Selection, A Critique of Some Current Evolutionary Thought. Princeton University Press, Princeton, p 307
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mueller, U.G., Wolf-Mueller, B. Epiphyll deterrence to the leafcutter ant Atta cephalotes . Oecologia 86, 36–39 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00317386
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00317386