Publications des scientifiques de l'IRD

Male P. J. G., Ferdy J. B., Leroy Céline, Roux Olivier, Lauth J., Avilez A., Dejean A., Quilichini A., Orivel J. (2014). Retaliation in response to castration promotes a low level of virulence in an ant-plant mutualism. Evolutionary Biology, 41 (1), p. 22-28. ISSN 0071-3260.

Titre du document
Retaliation in response to castration promotes a low level of virulence in an ant-plant mutualism
Année de publication
2014
Type de document
Article référencé dans le Web of Science WOS:000331646000003
Auteurs
Male P. J. G., Ferdy J. B., Leroy Céline, Roux Olivier, Lauth J., Avilez A., Dejean A., Quilichini A., Orivel J.
Source
Evolutionary Biology, 2014, 41 (1), p. 22-28 ISSN 0071-3260
The diversion of a host's energy by a symbiont for its own benefit is a major source of instability in horizontally-transmitted mutualisms. This instability can be counter-balanced by the host's retaliation against exploiters. Such responses are crucial to the maintenance of the relationship. We focus on this issue in an obligate ant-plant mutualism in which the ants are known to partially castrate their host plant. We studied plant responses to various levels of castration in terms of (1) global vegetative investment and (2) investment in myrmecophytic traits. Castration led to a higher plant growth rate, signalling a novel case of gigantism induced by parasitic castration. On the other hand, completely castrated plants produced smaller nesting and food resources (i.e. leaf pouches and extra floral nectaries). Since the number of worker larvae is correlated to the volume of the leaf pouches, such a decrease in the investment in myrmecophytic traits demonstrates for the first time the existence of inducible retaliation mechanisms against too virulent castrating ants. Over time, this mechanism promotes an intermediate level of castration and enhances the stability of the mutualistic relationship by providing the ants with more living space while allowing the plant to reproduce.
Plan de classement
Sciences fondamentales / Techniques d'analyse et de recherche [020] ; Sciences du monde végétal [076] ; Sciences du monde animal [080]
Description Géographique
GUYANE FRANCAISE
Localisation
Fonds IRD [F B010061823]
Identifiant IRD
fdi:010061823
Contact