@article{fdi:010061823,
  title = {{R}etaliation in response to castration promotes a low level of virulence in an ant-plant mutualism},
  author = {{M}ale, {P}. {J}. {G}. and {F}erdy, {J}. {B}. and {L}eroy, {C}{\'e}line and {R}oux, {O}livier and {L}auth, {J}. and {A}vilez, {A}. and {D}ejean, {A}. and {Q}uilichini, {A}. and {O}rivel, {J}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he diversion of a host's energy by a symbiont for its own benefit is a major source of instability in horizontally-transmitted mutualisms. {T}his instability can be counter-balanced by the host's retaliation against exploiters. {S}uch responses are crucial to the maintenance of the relationship. {W}e focus on this issue in an obligate ant-plant mutualism in which the ants are known to partially castrate their host plant. {W}e studied plant responses to various levels of castration in terms of (1) global vegetative investment and (2) investment in myrmecophytic traits. {C}astration led to a higher plant growth rate, signalling a novel case of gigantism induced by parasitic castration. {O}n the other hand, completely castrated plants produced smaller nesting and food resources (i.e. leaf pouches and extra floral nectaries). {S}ince 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. {O}ver 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.},
  keywords = {{E}volutionary conflict ; {C}heater ; {O}verexploitation ; {M}utualism breakdown ; {A}llomerus decemarticulatus ; {H}irtella physophora ; {GUYANE} {FRANCAISE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{E}volutionary {B}iology},
  volume = {41},
  numero = {1},
  pages = {22--28},
  ISSN = {0071-3260},
  year = {2014},
  DOI = {10.1007/s11692-013-9242-7},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010061823},
}