Sterilization and canopy modification of a swollen thorn acacia tree by a plant-ant

Maureen L. Stanton (), Todd M. Palmer, Truman P. Young, Amanda Evans and Monica L. Turner
Additional contact information
Maureen L. Stanton: Center for Population Biology, University of California
Todd M. Palmer: Mpala Research Centre, PO Box 555
Truman P. Young: Center for Population Biology, University of California
Amanda Evans: University of Oregon
Monica L. Turner: Mpala Research Centre, PO Box 555

Nature, 1999, vol. 401, issue 6753, 578-581

Abstract: Abstract Obligate symbioses between specialized arboreal ants and plants have evolved independently in many lineages1,2. Ant-plants (myrmecophytes) typically provide hollow nest cavities and nutrition to the occupying ant colony1,3,4,5,6. In turn, resident plant-ants often protect their hosts from herbivory7,8,9,10,11 and/or overgrowth by surrounding vegetation12,13. As individual plants are rarely occupied by more than one ant colony14,15,16,17, co-occurring plant-ant species compete intensely for hosts13,14,18,19. In such multi-species systems, ecological interactions among potential partners may lead to the evolution of cheating20,21. Previous studies have revealed that some specialized plant-ants are effectively parasites of their host-plants8,18,22,23, but the selection pressures favouring such behaviours are poorly understood. Here we describe host parasitism in an east African plant-ant that prunes and sterilizes its host-tree canopies, apparently to minimize contact with competitively dominant ants occupying neighbouring trees. We propose that the high density of ant-trees and low diversity of tree species in this savanna habitat have selected for induced, parasitic pruning of host trees by this competitively subordinate ant species.

Date: 1999
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DOI: 10.1038/44119

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