Piper sp. and its inhabiting ant Pheidole bicornis: Do they communicate?

Author(s)

Veronika Mayer

Abstract

More than 400 tropical plant species from more than 40 genera are known to have mutualistic associations with ants. In

exchange for housing and often food, the plants are protected by the ants. This is also the case in myrmecophytic neotropical

Piper plants (Fig. A). Ants of the genus Pheidole live obligate in petioles and stems (Fig. B) of Piper and harvest

the fat and protein rich food bodies (Fig. C).

In exchange for housing, the only 4 mm long Pheidole bicornis removes insect eggs, vines and small particles from the

leaves. They are known as ¿sluggish¿ and unaggressive (Risch et al., 1977; Letourneau, 1983, 1998). We found

incidentally, that the inhabiting ants respond rapidly to injuries of the plants¿ stem (but not the leaves) and wanted to know

more about the releaser and the purpose for this instantaneous behaviour change.

Our experiments show that the plant is capable of signaling to its ants that damages have occurred to its most vulnerable

parts by the release of volatile fragrances. The ants ¿understand¿ the signal and respond with recruitment and aggressive

behaviour. It is apparent that the Pheidole bicornis ants can recognize a common odor in all four myrmecophytic Piper

species. We show, that these small ants protect their plants not only by finding and destroying the eggs of herbivores or

by removing moss, but by attacking herbivores trying to harm the plant, and therewithal, the ants nest.

Organisation(s)

Journal

Beiträge zur Naturkunde Oberösterreichs

Volume

No. of pages

647

ISSN

1025-3262

Publication date

2006

Peer reviewed

Yes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

106054 Zoology, 106008 Botany

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