Studies of a South East Asian ant-plant association: protection of Macaranga trees by Crematogaster borneensis
@article{Fiala1989StudiesOA, title={Studies of a South East Asian ant-plant association: protection of Macaranga trees by Crematogaster borneensis}, author={Brigitte Fiala and Ulrich Maschwitz and Tho Yow Pong and Andreas J. Helbig}, journal={Oecologia}, year={1989}, volume={79}, pages={463-470} }
SummaryIn the humid tropics of SE Asia there are some 14 myrmecophytic species of the pioneer tree genus Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae). In Peninsular Malaysia a close association exists between the trees and the small, non-stinging myrmicine Crematogaster borneensis. These ants feed mainly on food bodies provided by the plants and have their colonies inside the hollow internodes. In a ten months field study we were able to demonstrate for four Macaranga species (M. triloba, M. hypoleuca, M. hosei…
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Studies on the south east Asian ant-plant associationCrematogaster borneensis/Macaranga: Adaptations of the ant partner
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The hypothesis that non-specific, facultative associations with ants can be advantageous for Macaranga plants is supported and food bodies appear to have lower attractive value for opportunistic ants than EFN and may require a specific dietary adaptation.
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It is suggested that the aggressive behaviours of plant-ants towards leaf-feeding insects restrict the potential host-plant ranges of some Macaranga-feeding Arhopala butterflies.
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- Environmental Science
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- Environmental Science
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The results of previous studies investigating the interspecific differences in ant defense intensities using ant-exclusion experiments suggest that the bioassay using A. major larvae is valid for the assessment of relative intensities of ant defenses on Macaranga species.
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- Environmental Science
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Data on C. captiosa from theMalay Peninsula as well as Borneo indicate that sexual production and colonyfounding occurs throughout the year, and Macaranga saplings for colony founding can also become available outside peak seasons from seed banks after disturbance.
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The hypothesis of a trade-off between chemical and biotic defense in the genus Macaranga is supported, as high tannin contents and, thus more effective chemical defense, were observed in nonmyrmecophytic MacARanga species associated only facultatively with ants as compared to obligate myrmecphytes.
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