Endophytic fungi reduce leaf-cutting ant damage to seedlings

L. S. Bittleston; F. Brockmann; W. Wcislo; S. A. Van Bael; F. Brockman

doi:10.1098/rsbl.2010.0456

Endophytic fungi reduce leaf-cutting ant damage to seedlings

L. S. Bittleston, F. Brockmann, W. Wcislo, S. A. Van Bael, F. Brockman

Department of Biological Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

51 Scopus citations

Abstract

Our study examines how the mutualism between Atta colombica leaf-cutting ants and their cultivated fungus is influenced by the presence of diverse foliar endophytic fungi (endophytes) at high densities in tropical leaf tissues. We conducted laboratory choice trials in which ant colonies chose between Cordia alliodora seedlings with high (E_high) or low (E_low) densities of endophytes. The E_high seedlings contained 5.5 times higher endophyte content and a greater diversity of fungal morphospecies than the E_low treatment, and endophyte content was not correlated with leaf toughness or thickness. Leafcutting ants cut over 2.5 times the leaf area from E_low relative to E_high seedlings and had a tendency to recruit more ants to E_low plants. Our findings suggest that leaf-cutting ants may incur costs from cutting and processing leaves with high endophyte loads, which could impact Neotropical forests by causing variable damage rates within plant communities. This journal is

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	30-32
Number of pages	3
Journal	Biology Letters
Volume	7
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2010.0456
State	Published - 23 Feb 2011

Keywords

Attini
Endophytes
Herbivory
Mutualism
Symbiosis
emdophytes

EGS Disciplines

Plant Sciences

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10.1098/rsbl.2010.0456

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title = "Endophytic fungi reduce leaf-cutting ant damage to seedlings",

abstract = "Our study examines how the mutualism between Atta colombica leaf-cutting ants and their cultivated fungus is influenced by the presence of diverse foliar endophytic fungi (endophytes) at high densities in tropical leaf tissues. We conducted laboratory choice trials in which ant colonies chose between Cordia alliodora seedlings with high (Ehigh) or low (Elow) densities of endophytes. The Ehigh seedlings contained 5.5 times higher endophyte content and a greater diversity of fungal morphospecies than the Elow treatment, and endophyte content was not correlated with leaf toughness or thickness. Leafcutting ants cut over 2.5 times the leaf area from Elow relative to Ehigh seedlings and had a tendency to recruit more ants to Elow plants. Our findings suggest that leaf-cutting ants may incur costs from cutting and processing leaves with high endophyte loads, which could impact Neotropical forests by causing variable damage rates within plant communities. This journal is",

keywords = "Attini, Endophytes, Herbivory, Mutualism, Symbiosis, emdophytes",

author = "Bittleston, {L. S.} and F. Brockmann and W. Wcislo and {Van Bael}, {S. A.} and F. Brockman",

note = "Mutualism is an important evolutionary strategy, as organisms take advantage of other species' unique abilities in order to increase survival and reproduction. Leaf-cutting ants are members of a well-known mutualistic association involving a coevolved fungal symbiont ( Leucocoprinus gongylophorus): the ants cut and prepare leaf pieces as a fungal growth substrate, and the cultivar provides the ants with nutrition and a matrix for brood-rearing, among other benefits [ 1].",

year = "2011",

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day = "23",

doi = "10.1098/rsbl.2010.0456",

language = "English",

volume = "7",

pages = "30--32",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Endophytic fungi reduce leaf-cutting ant damage to seedlings

AU - Bittleston, L. S.

AU - Brockmann, F.

AU - Wcislo, W.

AU - Van Bael, S. A.

AU - Brockman, F.

N1 - Mutualism is an important evolutionary strategy, as organisms take advantage of other species' unique abilities in order to increase survival and reproduction. Leaf-cutting ants are members of a well-known mutualistic association involving a coevolved fungal symbiont ( Leucocoprinus gongylophorus): the ants cut and prepare leaf pieces as a fungal growth substrate, and the cultivar provides the ants with nutrition and a matrix for brood-rearing, among other benefits [ 1].

PY - 2011/2/23

Y1 - 2011/2/23

N2 - Our study examines how the mutualism between Atta colombica leaf-cutting ants and their cultivated fungus is influenced by the presence of diverse foliar endophytic fungi (endophytes) at high densities in tropical leaf tissues. We conducted laboratory choice trials in which ant colonies chose between Cordia alliodora seedlings with high (Ehigh) or low (Elow) densities of endophytes. The Ehigh seedlings contained 5.5 times higher endophyte content and a greater diversity of fungal morphospecies than the Elow treatment, and endophyte content was not correlated with leaf toughness or thickness. Leafcutting ants cut over 2.5 times the leaf area from Elow relative to Ehigh seedlings and had a tendency to recruit more ants to Elow plants. Our findings suggest that leaf-cutting ants may incur costs from cutting and processing leaves with high endophyte loads, which could impact Neotropical forests by causing variable damage rates within plant communities. This journal is

AB - Our study examines how the mutualism between Atta colombica leaf-cutting ants and their cultivated fungus is influenced by the presence of diverse foliar endophytic fungi (endophytes) at high densities in tropical leaf tissues. We conducted laboratory choice trials in which ant colonies chose between Cordia alliodora seedlings with high (Ehigh) or low (Elow) densities of endophytes. The Ehigh seedlings contained 5.5 times higher endophyte content and a greater diversity of fungal morphospecies than the Elow treatment, and endophyte content was not correlated with leaf toughness or thickness. Leafcutting ants cut over 2.5 times the leaf area from Elow relative to Ehigh seedlings and had a tendency to recruit more ants to Elow plants. Our findings suggest that leaf-cutting ants may incur costs from cutting and processing leaves with high endophyte loads, which could impact Neotropical forests by causing variable damage rates within plant communities. This journal is

KW - Attini

KW - Endophytes

KW - Herbivory

KW - Mutualism

KW - Symbiosis

KW - emdophytes

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DO - 10.1098/rsbl.2010.0456

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:79551496184

SN - 1744-9561

VL - 7

SP - 30

EP - 32

JO - Biology Letters

JF - Biology Letters

IS - 1

ER -

Endophytic fungi reduce leaf-cutting ant damage to seedlings

Abstract

Keywords

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