Small-scale disturbances spread along trophic chains: leaf-cutting ant nests, plants, aphids, and tending ants

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dc.contributor.authorFarji-Brener, Alejandro G.
dc.contributor.authorGianoli, Ernesto
dc.contributor.authorMolina-Montenegro, Marco A.
dc.date.accessioned2025-01-21T01:04:56Z
dc.date.available2025-01-21T01:04:56Z
dc.date.issued2009
dc.description.abstractSmall-scale disturbances caused by animals often modify soil resource availability and may also affect plant attributes. Changes in the phenotype of plants growing on disturbed, nutrient-enriched microsites may influence the distribution and abundance of associated insects. We evaluated how the high nutrient availability generated by leaf-cutting ant nests in a Patagonian desert steppe may spread along the trophic chain, affecting the phenotype of two thistle species, the abundance of a specialist aphid and the composition of the associated assemblage of tending ants. Plants of the thistle species Carduus nutans and Onopordum acanthium growing in piles of waste material generated by leaf-cutting ant nests (i.e., refuse dumps) had more leaves, inflorescences and higher foliar nitrogen content than those in non-nest soils. Overall, plants in refuse dumps showed higher abundance of aphids than plants in non-nest soils, and aphid colonies were of greater size on O. acanthium plants than on C. nutans plants. However, only C. nutans plants showed an increase in aphid abundance when growing on refuse dumps. This resulted in a similar aphid load in both thistle species when growing on refuse dumps. Accordingly, only C. nutans showed an increase in the number of ant species attending aphids when growing on refuse dumps. The increase of soil fertility generated by leaf-cutting ant nests can affect aphid abundance and their tending ant assemblage through its effect on plant size and quality. However, the propagation of small-scale soil disturbances through the trophic chain may depend on the identity of the species involved.
dc.fuente.origenWOS
dc.identifier.doi10.1007/s11284-008-0491-3
dc.identifier.eissn1440-1703
dc.identifier.issn0912-3814
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-008-0491-3
dc.identifier.urihttps://repositorio.uc.cl/handle/11534/95740
dc.identifier.wosidWOS:000261956100016
dc.issue.numero1
dc.language.isoen
dc.pagina.final145
dc.pagina.inicio139
dc.revistaEcological research
dc.rightsacceso restringido
dc.subjectAcromyrmex lobicornis
dc.subjectAnts
dc.subjectAphid
dc.subjectBottom-up effects
dc.subjectFertilizer effect
dc.subjectSoil disturbances
dc.subjectThistle
dc.subjectTrophic cascades
dc.subject.ods15 Life on Land
dc.subject.odspa15 Vida de ecosistemas terrestres
dc.titleSmall-scale disturbances spread along trophic chains: leaf-cutting ant nests, plants, aphids, and tending ants
dc.typeartículo
dc.volumen24
sipa.indexWOS
sipa.trazabilidadWOS;2025-01-12
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