The role of resource imbalances in the evolutionary ecology of tropical arboreal ants

@article{Davidson1997TheRO,
  title={The role of resource imbalances in the evolutionary ecology of tropical arboreal ants},
  author={Diane W. Davidson},
  journal={Biological Journal of The Linnean Society},
  year={1997},
  volume={61},
  pages={153-181}
}
  • D. Davidson
  • Published 1 June 1997
  • Environmental Science
  • Biological Journal of The Linnean Society
Abstract In numbers and biomass, ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) often dominate arthropod faunas of tropical rainforest canopies. Extraordinary ant abundance is due principally to one or a few species able to tap the high productivity of canopy foliage by feeding on plant and homopteran exudates. Prior studies of nitrogen isotopic ratios show that exudate-feeders derive much of their nitrogen (N) by processing large quantities of N-poor, but carbohydrate (CHO)-rich, exudates. CHOs in excess of… 
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