Epiphyll deterrence to the leafcutter ant Atta cephalotes

descriptionPublicationkeyboard_double_arrow_right Article 01 Mar 1991 English Publisher:Springer Science and Business Media LLCJournal:Oecologia, volume 86, pages 36-39 (issn: 0029-8549, eissn: 1432-1939,

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Authors: Ulrich G, Mueller; Bettina, Wolf-Mueller;

doi: 10.1007/bf00317386

pmid: 28313155

Epiphyll deterrence to the leafcutter ant Atta cephalotes

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Abstract

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.

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