Clusters of ant colonies and robust criticality in a tropical agroecosystem

John Vandermeer (), Ivette Perfecto and Stacy M. Philpott
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John Vandermeer: Kraus Natural Science Building, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
Ivette Perfecto: School of Natural Resources and Environment, Dana Building, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
Stacy M. Philpott: 2801 W. Bancroft Street, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio 43606, USA

Nature, 2008, vol. 451, issue 7177, 457-459

Abstract: Subtle variation It is natural to assume that patchiness in an ecosystem must reflect an underlying property of the habitat. Yet there are several lines of evidence to suggest that intrinsic biological dynamics can produce pattern even in an ecosystem that is homogeneous for the organisms involved. Outside of the laboratory, it is difficult to convincingly demonstrate large-scale pattern formation from biological interactions, mainly because it is close to impossible to exclude habitat variables. Vandermeer et al. have used the artificiality of shade trees planted in a coffee plantation to get around this problem, and demonstrate significant patterning of a particular species of ant, Azteca instabilis, that nests in those trees. Ant population density is controlled by natural enemies, mainly a parasitic fly, but the distribution of ant nest clusters follows a strong spatial pattern despite habitat homogeneity.

Date: 2008
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DOI: 10.1038/nature06477

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