La fuerza del amor en el Neotrópico: contraste en la eficiencia defensiva de dos especies de hormigas del género Pseudomyrmex sobre plantas de Acacia cornigera. (Parte II)

Abstract

*[In our system of A. cornigera & the ant P. ferrugineus & P. gracilis, we first reported a neighborhood effect in the colonization of plants by both ant species, a higher proportion of colonization & larger host plants colonized by P. ferrugineus. But, what is the function of P. gracilis, in classic terms of anti-herbivory, were the 2 ant species Pseudomyrmex equally efficient in defending their Acacias? A first level of observation is based on an index of herbivory per plant. We also used simulated herbivory & found that P. ferrugineus is more efficient, when present on plants less damage is caused by herbivores, & ants were recruited faster in the presence of a potential herbivore. Lars et al. (2008) suggested that the coexistence of both species & especially the persistence of P. gracilis on a similar system with Acacia hindsii is, because they have fast-growing, low-density colonies, suggesting reproductive winged forms as an r-strategy. However, these authors are not including chemical stimuli, only visual or physical stimuli, so which other mechanisms promote the interaction of P. gracilis with Acacia cornigera.]