Associação condicional entre o homoptero Guayaquila xiphias (membracidae) e suas formigas atendentes : o efeito da fenologia da planta hospedeira no resultado da interação

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2002

RESUMO

We studied the effect of host plant phenology (Didymopanax vinosum) on the interaction between the honeydew-producing membracid Guayaquila xiphias and its tending ants in the cerrado savanna ofBrazil. Results showed that the phloem of plants with inflorescence had a higher sugar concentration compared to the phloem of plants without inflorescence. However, the honeydew produced by treehoppers feeding on flowering plants had the same sugar concentration and was produced in equal quantities compared to the honeydew trom treehoppers feeding on plants without inflorescence. Moreover, membracid aggregations were tended by the same relative number of ants on plants with or without inflorescence. Controlled field experiments showed that ant presence reduced the abundance of Guayaquila s natural enemies on the host plant and increased homopteran survival. Although plant phenology had no significant effect on ant-derived benefits to membracids, it did affect the abundance of natural enemies on the host planto Plants with inflorescence accumulated more natural enemies through time than plants without inflorescence. This is the first study to experimentally investigate the effect of plant phenology on the outcome of an ant-homopteran system under natural conditions

ASSUNTO(S)

cerrados formiga mutualismo fenologia vegetal

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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