Epiphytic ant-plant obtains nitrogen from both native and invasive ant inhabitants

Abstract

Ant-plants have been extensively used as model systems in the study of the evolution and ecology of mutualisms. Using a 15N isotope labeling experiment, we found that both a native ant mutualist (Philidris cordata) and an invasive ant (Pheidole megacephala) provide nitrogen to the Australian ant-plant Myrmecodia beccarii.