Herbivory of leaf-cutting ants : A case study on Atta Colombica in the tropical rainforest of Panama
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| Parution | 17/01/2003 |
| Pages | 230 |
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Présentation
Plant-animal interactions have become a focus of ecological research, with the processes of herbivory being of special interest. This volume examines the interactions of leaf-cutting ants with the rainforest vegetation on Barro Colorado Islands in Central America. It is the synthesis of field research on multiple scales extending over a period of several years. This work can serve as a model study summarizing and extending knowledge about herbivorous insect-plant relationships, and the resulting consequences on structural and functional features of tropical ecosystems. The text is an invaluable reference for researchers and land managers working in the fields of plant-animal interactions, herbivory, community ecology and biodiversity.
Sommaire
- 11 About This Book
- 52 The Natural History of Leaf-Cutting Ants
- 52.1 The Significance of Social Insects
- 72.2 The Fungus Growers
- 92.3 The Natural History of the Leaf-Cutting Ants of the Genus Atta
- 92.3.1 Colony Foundation in Atta
- 142.3.2 Division of Labor in Atta Colonies
- 172.3.3 The Maintenance of Fungal Hygiene
- 202.3.4 Communication and Foraging in Atta Colonies
- 242.3.5 Leaf-Cutting Behavior and Load-Size Determination
- 282.3.6 Communication Between the Fungus Garden and Workers in Atta Colonies
- 31Color Plates 1–16
- 493 The Study Area – Barro Colorado Island
- 493.1 Location and History
- 513.2 Geology and Soils
- 513.3 Climatic Conditions
- 523.4 Vegetation Structure and Composition
- 533.5 Fauna
- 543.6 Research Locations
- 554 Species Composition of the Forest
- 554.1 Selection and Setup of the Study Plot
- 564.2 Vegetation Inventory
- 574.3 Abundances and Diversity of Tree Species
- 615 Forest Light Regimes
- 615.1 Seasonal and Spatial Light Patterns in the Understory
- 615.1.1 Measuring Irradiance
- 635.1.2 Horizontal Distribution of Irradiance
- 645.1.3 Seasonal Aspects
- 665.2 Vertical Light Variability
- 665.2.1 Measuring Vertical Light Profiles
- 675.2.2 Vertical Distribution of Light
- 615.1 Seasonal and Spatial Light Patterns in the Understory
- 716 Canopy Structure of the Forest
- 716.1 Theory
- 726.2 Measuring LAI and Foliage Orientation
- 736.3 Vertical Distribution of Foliage Angles
- 746.4 Spatial and Temporal Characteristics of LAI Distribution
- 746.4.1 Vertical LAI Distribution
- 776.4.2 Horizontal LAI Distribution and Seasonal Variation
- 806.5 LAI Measurements with the Li-Cor LAI-2000
- 816.6 Comparison of the Study Plot with Other Parts of the BCI Forest
- 837 Colony Dynamics
- 847.1 Colony Distribution and Density
- 887.2 Colony Movements
- 897.3 Nest Size
- 907.4 Nest Trees
- 918 Harvest Dynamics
- 918.1 Annual Pattern of Foraging Activity
- 918.1.1 Measuring Foraging Activity
- 928.1.2 Plant Biomass Harvest
- 998.2 Size and Weight of Harvested Fragments
- 1018.3 Diurnal Course of Foraging Activity
- 1018.3.1 The Typical Pattern and Its Variability
- 1048.3.2 The Role of Precipitation
- 1058.4 Rapid Estimation of Harvesting Rates
- 1058.4.1 Estimating Colony Harvest
- 1078.4.2 Estimating the Annual Harvest of the Atta colombica Population
- 1108.4.3 General Suitability of Linear Regression Models for Estimating Harvest Rates
- 918.1 Annual Pattern of Foraging Activity
- 1119 The Trail System
- 1129.1 Mapping and Monitoring of Foraging Trails
- 1129.2 Annual Course of Foraging Trail Establishment
- 1159.3 Frequency of Trail Establishment Throughout the Year
- 1169.4 Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Foraging
- 1179.5 Foraging Activity in the Canopy
- 1179.6 Estimating Foraging Area
- 1199.7 Trunk Trail Systems as Determinants of Foraging Patterns
- 12110 Host Plant Selection
- 12110.1 Measuring Electivity
- 12210.2 Harvest Preferences of Colony I Throughout the Year
- 12210.2.1 Characterization of the Harvested Species
- 12810.2.2 Harvest Diversity and Selection
- 13111 Herbivory Rates
- 13111.1 Factors Affecting Estimates of Herbivory
- 13411.2 Herbivory Rates at the Landscape Level
- 13811.3 Herbivory at the Colony Level
- 13811.3.1 Leaf Harvesting Rates Along Trunk Trail III
- 13911.3.2 Defining a Discrete Foraging Area
- 14011.3.3 Annual Foliage Loss from the Foraging Area
- 14311.4 Herbivory at the Individual Tree Level
- 14311.4.1 Methodological Details
- 14311.4.2 Estimation of Annual Leaf Harvest from Selected Individual Host Plants
- 14411.4.3 Annual Pattern of Leaf Consumption and Herbivory Rates
- 14811.5 Comparison of Herbivory at Different Levels
- 15112 Herbivory and Light
- 15112.1 Effects of Foliage Removal on Light Distribution and Intensity
- 15112.1.1 Changes in Understory Light Climate of the Foraging Area
- 15312.1.2 Changes in Light Climate of an Individual Tree
- 15512.1.3 Simulated Changes in Canopy Light Intensity
- 15712.2 Canopy Photosynthesis
- 15712.2.1 Simulated Changes in Whole Canopy Photosynthesis
- 16012.2.2 Simulated Effects on Photosynthesis of Single Trees
- 16112.3 Compensatory Growth
- 15112.1 Effects of Foliage Removal on Light Distribution and Intensity
- 16513 Seed Dispersal by Leaf-Cutting Ants
- 16613.1 Fruit Harvest from the Pioneer Tree Miconia argentea (Melastomataceae)
- 16713.2 The Fate of Harvested Miconia Seeds
- 16813.3 Ecological Significance of Atta Fruit Harvest
- 17114 Nutrient Cycling and Water Relations
- 17114.1 Nutrient Cycling
- 17114.1.1 Herbivores and Nutrient Cycling
- 17314.1.2 Nutrient Concentrations in Harvested Leaves and Refuse
- 17514.1.3 Nutrient Dynamics Within the Colony
- 17714.1.4 Community Level Effects
- 17914.2 Water Relations
- 17914.2.1 The Effect of Leaf Wounding
- 18014.2.2 Whole-Canopy Level Effects
- 18114.2.3 Simulated Effects of Herbivory on Transpiration of Single Trees
- 17114.1 Nutrient Cycling
- 18315 Conclusions: Ecosystem Perspectives
- 18415.1 Disturbance, Herbivory, and Biodiversity
- 18715.2 Leaf-Cutting Ants and the Spatial and Temporal Heterogeneity of Resources
- 18815.2.1 Light Heterogeneity
- 19015.2.2 Nutrient and Soil Heterogeneity
- 19115.2.3 Heterogeneity of Water Availability
- 19115.3 Leaf-Cutting Ants and Ecosystem Biodiversity
- 195References
- 221Taxonomic Index
- 225Subject Index
- 19 lectures
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