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

Description

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 żsluggishż and unaggressive (Risch et al., 1977; Letourneau, 1983, 1998). We found incidentally, that the inhabiting ants respond rapidly to injuries of the plantsż stem (but not the leaves) and wanted to know more about the releaser and the purpose for this instantaneous behaviour change.

Period	2006
Event title	12. Österreichisches Botanikertreffen
Event type	Conference
Location	Kremsmünster, AustriaShow on map