InfluÃncia da herbivoria de formigas cortadeiras no sucesso reprodutivo de espÃcies arbustivo-arbÃreas da Floresta AtlÃntica Nordestina

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2009

RESUMO

Consuming mainly leaves, the leaf-cutting ants (LCA) are the dominant herbivore of Neotropical forests. Foliar herbivory induces plants to allocate photosynthetic products to compensate for vegetative tissue loss. This creates a trade-off between reproductive and vegetative demands in adultsâ plants and it can reduce the seedlings survival and growth. This work has evaluated the influence of herbivoria by LCA: (1) in reproductive output of seven shrub/tree species of northeastern Atlantic forest frequently used by LCA (Lacistema robustum â Lacistemataceae; Leandra rufescens, Miconia nervosa â Melastomataceae; Psychotria deflexa, Psychotria platypoda, Psychotria racemosa â Rubiaceae; Vismia guianensis â Clusiaceae); and (2) in the survival and growth of Vismia guianensis (Clusiaceae) seedlings. Field work was undertaken at the Frei Caneca RPPN, northeastern Brazil. The reproductive success was estimated by the number of floral buds per inflorescence, the flower/bud, fruit/flower and seed/fruit ratios, and the size and weight of seeds, from plants cut and not cut by LCA. The influence of LCA on survival and growth of V. guianensis was investigated for seedlings under co-specific adults with and without ants influence. The found results indicated that LCA negatively affect plant reproduction as harvested individuals of different species presented one or more of the studies responses, probably because cut plants allocated more photosynthetic products to recovery of tissues lost in detriment of reproduction. Considering the seedlingsâ herbivory, have not been verified differences in survival and growth among the seedlings with and without the influence of ants. Higher production of foliage and consequently higher number of young foliage, who are more palatable, probably attracted for adultsâ plants the foraging effort of LCA. Our findings add a hitherto undescribed mechanism to the manifold impacts LCAs exert on their food plants

ASSUNTO(S)

reproductive biology ecologia biologia reprodutiva produÃÃo de flores herbivoria de plÃntulas herbÃvoros northeastern atlantic forest attini herbivorous vismia guianensis fruits production floresta atlÃntica nordestina formigas cortadeiras produÃÃo de frutos vismia guianensis flowers production leaf-cutting ants plant populations seedlings herbivory attini populaÃÃes vegetais

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