Comparison of the differences in response to the change of the extrafloral nectar-ant-herbivore interaction system between a native and an introduced Passiflora species.

Abstract

How introduced plants associate with native biotic is one of the fundamental questions in evolutionary biology and invasive biology. Extrafloral nectar ( EFN) bearing plants usually use nectar to attract ants while those ants could help plants defense herbivores; establishing a plan-t an-t herbivore interactive system. In this study , we conducted artificial an-t exclusion, EFN-exclusion, herbivore exclusion, ant and herbivore exclusion to compare the differences in response to the change of the extrafloral nectaran-t herbivore interaction system in an native passionflower ( Passiflora siamica) and an newly introduced species ( P1 coccinea) . A total of about 24 ant species were recorded consuming the EFN resource. There was no significant difference in the total number of visiting ants while ant species composition was different in the two Passiflora plants (V = 141 76, df= 4, P< 0101) . The most abundant ant species for P1 siamica was Dolichoderus thoracicus while for P1 coccinea was Paratrechina sp. The herbivorous insects observed were mainly generalists, including snails, katydisds ( Pseudophyllidae) or some larvae of butterflies and moths. The amount of nectar per leaf produced from P1 siamica is significantly higher than P1 coccinea ( Willcox, z= 3187, P< 0101) . An-t exclusion in this experiment did not signif-i cantly influence the average leaf loss per plant. The treatments for an-t exclusion, herbivore exclusion, and ant+ herbivore exclusion all did not significantly influence the EFN production. As a whole, the plan-t an-t generalist herbivore in the 云 南 植 物 研 究 2009, 31 ( 6) : 543~ 550 Acta Botanica Yunnanica DOI: 1013724PSP1J1 114312009109101 X 通讯作者: Author for correspondence; E-mail: biotrans@ bn1yn1 cninfo1ne 收稿日期: 20090525, 20090811接受发表 作者简介: 徐芳芳 ( 1981) 女, 在读硕士研究生, 主要从事植物与蚂蚁互惠关系的研究。 two Passiflora species did not show a significant difference in the response to the change, while the interactive system with specialist herbivores request further investigation.