@article{fdi:010060606,
  title = {{M}utualistic ants contribute to tank-bromeliad nutrition},
  author = {{L}eroy, {C}{\'e}line and {C}arrias, {J}. {F}. and {C}orbara, {B}. and {P}elozuelo, {L}. and {D}ezerald, {O}. and {B}rouard, {O}. and {D}ejean, {A}. and {C}ereghino, {R}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{E}piphytism imposes physiological constraints resulting from the lack of access to the nutrient sources available to ground-rooted plants. {A} conspicuous adaptation in response to that lack is the phytotelm (plant-held waters) of tank-bromeliad species that are often nutrient-rich. {A}ssociations with terrestrial invertebrates also result in higher plant nutrient acquisition. {A}ssuming that tank-bromeliads rely on reservoir-assisted nutrition, it was hypothesized that the dual association with mutualistic ants and the phytotelm food web provides greater nutritional benefits to the plant compared with those bromeliads involved in only one of these two associations. {Q}uantitative (water volume, amount of fine particulate organic matter, predator/prey ratio, algal density) and qualitative variables (ant-association and photosynthetic pathways) were compared for eight tank- and one tankless-bromeliad morphospecies from {F}rench {G}uiana. {A}n analysis was also made of which of these variables affect nitrogen acquisition (leaf {N} and {N}-15). {A}ll variables were significantly different between tank-bromeliad species. {L}eaf {N} concentrations and leaf {N}-15 were both positively correlated with the presence of mutualistic ants. {T}he amount of fine particulate organic matter and predator/prey ratio had a positive and negative effect on leaf {N}-15, respectively. {W}ater volume was positively correlated with leaf {N} concentration whereas algal density was negatively correlated. {F}inally, the photosynthetic pathway ({C}-3 vs. {CAM}) was positively correlated with leaf {N} concentration with a slightly higher {N} concentration for {C}-3-{T}illandsioideae compared with {CAM}-{B}romelioideae. {T}he study suggests that some of the differences in {N} nutrition between bromeliad species can be explained by the presence of mutualistic ants. {F}rom a nutritional standpoint, it is more advantageous for a bromeliad to use myrmecotrophy via its roots than to use carnivory via its tank. {T}he results highlight a gap in our knowledge of the reciprocal interactions between bromeliads and the various trophic levels (from bacteria to large metazoan predators) that intervene in reservoir-assisted nutrition.},
  keywords = {{A}lgae ; ants ; {B}romeliaceae ; delta {N}-15 ; food webs ; {F}rench {G}uiana ; {F}ormicinae ; mutualistic interactions ; nitrogen ; phytotelmata ; stable isotopes ; tank bromeliad ; {GUYANE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}nnals of {B}otany},
  volume = {112},
  numero = {5},
  pages = {919--926},
  ISSN = {0305-7364},
  year = {2013},
  DOI = {10.1093/aob/mct147},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010060606},
}