EEB Thursday Seminar Series - Behavioral ecology at the ant-plant-herbivore interface: Ant-induced effects on herbivore decisions

Seminar Summary - Foliage represents a major zone of biological interaction in terrestrial ecosystems. Therefore, the capacity to make appropriate decisions during host plant selection is a crucial behavioral trait of insect herbivores. Our research group investigated behavioral decisions by butterflies and bees that exploit ant-visited plants in the Cerrado savanna of Brazil. Observations and experiments were performed under contrasting ecological scenarios: antagonism and mutualism with ants. Field experiments show that detection of ants by these two groups of flying insects can either discourage or promote potential contact with ants on foliage. Interaction trials suggest that behavioral decisions are associated with the risk of ant-induced injury, or with the benefit of protection via ant mutualists. Visual recognition of aggressive ants represents an unusual case of behavioral adaptation by flying insects associated with the use of plant resources (leaves, flower rewards) on ant-occupied foliage, and is particularly relevant in ant-rich Cerrado.