Herbivory with crypsis is not well documented in ferns. The present record of cryptic coloration of coccid Saissetia filicum Boisduval （Homoptera： Coccidae） to the sori of a fern species Asplenium nidus L. （Asplen...Herbivory with crypsis is not well documented in ferns. The present record of cryptic coloration of coccid Saissetia filicum Boisduval （Homoptera： Coccidae） to the sori of a fern species Asplenium nidus L. （Aspleniaceae） is unique. Predatory beetles （Jauravia sp., Coleoptera： Coccinellidae） that feed on the coccids, are suggested to be selective pressure for the development of the present homopteran soral crypsis. A higher rate of effective predation is noticed in the vegetative leaves than the fertile leaves. Aggressive ants were found harvesting honeydew secretions from the coccids and defending the trophobionts as well as the host fern from their natural enemies. In addition, a possible three-way mutualistic relationship among the coccids, its host fern and the tending ant is suggested. Differential numbers of coccids on vegetative and fertile leaves is correlated with their phenol content and degree of predation by beetles. Such coloration mimicry by the coccids may enable them to obtain the necessary blend of sorus of the host fern needed to evade beetle detection and attack.展开更多
Mutually beneficial associations are widespread in ecological networks.They are typically assembled as multispecies guilds of symbionts that compete for one or more host species.The ant Lasius flavus engages in an int...Mutually beneficial associations are widespread in ecological networks.They are typically assembled as multispecies guilds of symbionts that compete for one or more host species.The ant Lasius flavus engages in an intriguing and obligate mutualistic association with a community of aphids that are cultivated on plant roots in its nests.The ant displays a repertoire of amicable behaviors toward the aphids,including their transport.I examined whether L.flavus preferentially carried some of the root aphids.Using a no-choice and a choice experiment,I comparatively analyzed the transport rate of 5 obligate and one loosely associated species back to the ant nest and used the transport rate of the ant larvae as a reference.All associated root aphids were carried back to the nest,but in a clear preferential hierarchy.Geoica utricularia,Forda Formicaria,and Trama rara were rapidly transported,but slower than the own larvae.Tetraneura ulmi and Geoica setulosa were collected at a moderate rate and the loosely associated Aploneura lentisci was slowly retrieved.In contrast,different species of unassociated aphids were not transported and even provoked aggressive behavior in L.flavus.This study revealed that co-occurring symbionts may induce different degrees of host attraction,which ultimately may affect the coexistence and assembly of ant-symbiont communities.展开更多
文摘Herbivory with crypsis is not well documented in ferns. The present record of cryptic coloration of coccid Saissetia filicum Boisduval （Homoptera： Coccidae） to the sori of a fern species Asplenium nidus L. （Aspleniaceae） is unique. Predatory beetles （Jauravia sp., Coleoptera： Coccinellidae） that feed on the coccids, are suggested to be selective pressure for the development of the present homopteran soral crypsis. A higher rate of effective predation is noticed in the vegetative leaves than the fertile leaves. Aggressive ants were found harvesting honeydew secretions from the coccids and defending the trophobionts as well as the host fern from their natural enemies. In addition, a possible three-way mutualistic relationship among the coccids, its host fern and the tending ant is suggested. Differential numbers of coccids on vegetative and fertile leaves is correlated with their phenol content and degree of predation by beetles. Such coloration mimicry by the coccids may enable them to obtain the necessary blend of sorus of the host fern needed to evade beetle detection and attack.
基金This study was funded by the Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek—FWO(Junior postdoctoral fellowship 1203020N)the Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique—FNRS(Chargéde recherches 30257865).
文摘Mutually beneficial associations are widespread in ecological networks.They are typically assembled as multispecies guilds of symbionts that compete for one or more host species.The ant Lasius flavus engages in an intriguing and obligate mutualistic association with a community of aphids that are cultivated on plant roots in its nests.The ant displays a repertoire of amicable behaviors toward the aphids,including their transport.I examined whether L.flavus preferentially carried some of the root aphids.Using a no-choice and a choice experiment,I comparatively analyzed the transport rate of 5 obligate and one loosely associated species back to the ant nest and used the transport rate of the ant larvae as a reference.All associated root aphids were carried back to the nest,but in a clear preferential hierarchy.Geoica utricularia,Forda Formicaria,and Trama rara were rapidly transported,but slower than the own larvae.Tetraneura ulmi and Geoica setulosa were collected at a moderate rate and the loosely associated Aploneura lentisci was slowly retrieved.In contrast,different species of unassociated aphids were not transported and even provoked aggressive behavior in L.flavus.This study revealed that co-occurring symbionts may induce different degrees of host attraction,which ultimately may affect the coexistence and assembly of ant-symbiont communities.
