Ants inhabiting myrmecophytic ferns regulate the distribution of lianas on emergent trees in a Bornean tropical rainforest
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- Hiroshi O. Tanaka
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
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- Takao Itioka
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
Description
<jats:p>Little is known about the spatial distribution of lianas on emergent trees in tropical rainforests and the factors affecting this distribution. The present study investigated the effects of an arboreal ant species,<jats:italic>Crematogaster difformis</jats:italic>, which forms myrmecophytic symbioses with two epiphytic ferns,<jats:italic>Lecanopteris</jats:italic>sp. and<jats:italic>Platycerium</jats:italic>sp., on the spatial distribution of lianas associated with emergent trees. Living lianas were placed onto trunk surfaces inside and outside the territories of the ants in the canopy, to examine their ability to remove them. The number of leaves pruned by the ants was significantly higher on lianas inside than outside their territories. The spatial overlap of the distributions of lianas and the two ferns on emergent trees were then examined. The frequency of liana colonization of tree crowns was found to be significantly lower on trees with than without ferns. Under the natural conditions,<jats:italic>C. difformis</jats:italic>workers were observed biting and pruning the lianas. These results suggest that<jats:italic>C. difformis</jats:italic>regulates the distribution of lianas on emergent trees.</jats:p>
Journal
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- Biology Letters
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Biology Letters 7 (5), 706-709, 2011-04-20
The Royal Society
