Ants associated with fronds of the tropical bracken fern Pteridium esculentum subsp. arachnoideum

IF 1 4区环境科学与生态学 Q3 BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

Biota Neotropica Pub Date : 2022-01-01 DOI:10.1590/1676-0611-bn-2022-1416

Isabella Rodrigues Lancellotti, A. Mayhé-Nunes, R. Feitosa, Anderson dos Santos Portugal, M. G. Santos

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Abstract: Pteridium is a cosmopolitan genus of ferns that possess nectaries on its fronds (fern leaves), thereby attracting ants. Foliar (or extrafloral) nectaries are nectar-producing glands that are not related to pollination, but rather attract ants and other arthropods. Foliar nectaries are found in 101 fern species, belonging to 11 genera and six families. The aim of the study is to characterize the community of ants that visit the fronds of Pteridium esculentum subsp. arachnoideum, as well as daily and seasonal ant abundance in different frond development stages. The study was conducted in the Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Bimonthly collections were established, where 30 expanding fronds and 30 fully expanded fronds were randomly marked. In each 1-hour shift starting at 8:30 am and ending at 5:30 pm, the fronds were observed for the presence of ants. Thirty three ant species were recorded on the Pteridium esculentum subsp. arachnoideum fronds, distributed into six subfamilies and 13 genera. The most abundant species were Solenopsis sp.1 and Ectatomma tuberculatum. Eight ant species were observed foraging the nectaries of tropical bracken fern fronds. Ectatomma tuberculatum has been observed feeding on the nectaries and patrolling the fronds. Ant activity peak was on mid-day during the rainy season. The tropical bracken fern Pteridium esculentum subsp. arachnoideum has a rich (the highest recorded until now on Pteridium species) and diverse ant community on its fronds, mainly on the expanding fronds. The presence of generalist predatory ants (Ectatomma tuberculatum and Solenopsis sp.1) during the entire study period suggests a positive interaction between ants and Pteridium esculentum subsp. arachnoideum.

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与热带蕨类蕨类蕨叶有关的蚂蚁。arachnoideum

摘要:蕨类植物翼蕨(Pteridium)是一种世界性的蕨类植物属，其叶子上有蜜腺，从而吸引蚂蚁。叶面(或花外)蜜腺是产生花蜜的腺体，与授粉无关，而是吸引蚂蚁和其他节肢动物。蕨类植物共101种，分属6科11属。本研究的目的是表征访问翼蕨叶的蚂蚁群落。蛛形纲，以及不同发育阶段日蚁和季蚁的丰度。这项研究是在巴西里约热内卢州的大西洋森林进行的。每两个月采集一次，随机标记30株展开叶和30株完全展开叶。在从上午8:30开始到下午5:30结束的每1小时轮班中，观察叶子是否存在蚂蚁。在蕨菜亚种上记录到33种蚂蚁。蛛形纲植物，分6亚科13属。最丰富的种类是扶桑opsis sp.1和Ectatomma tuberculatum。观察到8种蚂蚁在热带蕨类植物的食蜜中觅食。观察到瘤异肿以蜜腺为食，并在叶子上巡逻。雨季蚂蚁活动高峰出现在中午。热带蕨类植物翼蕨。蛛形纲(arachnoideum)的蚁群丰富多样，主要分布在扩张叶上。蛛形纲是迄今为止记录最多的蕨类植物。在整个研究期间，普遍捕食蚂蚁(Ectatomma tuberculatum和Solenopsis sp.1)的存在表明蚂蚁与Pteridium esculentum subsp之间存在积极的相互作用。arachnoideum。

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来源期刊

Biota Neotropica BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION-

CiteScore

2.90

自引率

16.70%

发文量

审稿时长

4-8 weeks

期刊介绍： BIOTA NEOTROPICA is an electronic, peer-reviewed journal edited by the Program BIOTA/FAPESP: The Virtual Institute of Biodiversity. This journal"s aim is to disseminate the results of original research work, associated or not to the program, concerned with characterization, conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity within the Neotropical region. Manuscripts are considered on the understanding that their content has not appeared, or will not be submitted, elsewhere in substantially the same form, because once published their copyrights are transferred to BIOTA NEOTROPICA as established in the Copyright Transfer Agreement signed by the author(s).