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Camponotus (Myrmosphincta) sp. 0 2 MATERIAL EXAMINED. ��� French Guiana. Mitaraka, ��� Our Planet Reviewed ���, plateau forest, 2.233��N, ��� 54.444��W, 27.II-3.III.2015. 50945-C13-27/2/2015 (7); 50976-C15-3/3/2015 (1) DISTRIBUTION. ��� French Guiana., Published as part of Leponce, Maurice, Delabie, Jacques H. C., Orivel, J��r��me, Jacquemin, Justine, Martin, Mariano Calvo & Dejean, Alain, 2019, Tree-dwelling ant survey (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Mitaraka, French Guiana, pp. 163-179 in Zoosystema 41 (10) on page 174, DOI: 10.5252/zoosystema2019v41a10, http://zenodo.org/record/2652139

Crematogaster tenuicula Forel, 1904 Crematogaster tenuicula Forel, 1904: 36. MATERIAL EXAMINED. ��� French Guiana. Mitaraka, ��� Our Planet Reviewed ���, plateau forest, 2.233��N, ��� 54.444��W, swamp forest, 2.234��N, ��� 54.448��W, 27.II-7.III.2015, Petit Saut dam, Zone de rel��cher, 5.068��N, ��� 52.980��W, 16-20.X.2010. 50944-C01-27/2/2015 (28); 50963-C01-1/3/2015 (7); 50964-C02- 1/3/2015 (5); 50965-C02-1/3/2015 (28); 50969-C08-2/3/2015 (4); 50973-C03-1/3/2015 (1); 53128-C18-3/3/2015 (1); 53136-C04- 2/3/2015 (1); 53138-C06-2/3/2015 (1); 53142-D02-5/3/2015 (4); 53145-D07-5/3/2015 (3); 53153-D16-5/3/2015 (10); 53159-D29- 5/3/2015 (5); 53169-C26-2/3/2015 (8); 53170-C27-2/3/2015 (8); 53172-C28-2/3/2015 (2); 53175-C29-2/3/2015 (1); 53208-C24- 7/3/2015 (32); 53211-C25-7/3/2015 (14). 42881-PS08-13/10/2010 (1); 42898-PS24-13/10/2010 (1); 42901-PS28-13/10/2010 (1); 42927-PS26-14/10/2010 (1); 42985-PS30-16/10/2010 (1); 42989-PS34-16/10/2010 (1); 42993- PS38-16/10/2010 (1); 42997-PS42-16/10/2010 (1); 43078-PS35- 20/10/2010 (1); 43091-PS30-20/10/2010 (1). DISTRIBUTION. ��� Neotropical region: Costa Rica to Amazonian Brazil (including French Guiana), Bolivia., Published as part of Leponce, Maurice, Delabie, Jacques H. C., Orivel, J��r��me, Jacquemin, Justine, Martin, Mariano Calvo & Dejean, Alain, 2019, Tree-dwelling ant survey (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Mitaraka, French Guiana, pp. 163-179 in Zoosystema 41 (10) on page 178, DOI: 10.5252/zoosystema2019v41a10, http://zenodo.org/record/2652139, {"references":["FOREL A. 1904. - Miscellanea myrmecologiques. Revue Suisse de Zoologie 12: 1 - 52. https: // biodiversitylibrary. org / page / 10228045"]}

Pheidole group flavens sp. 0 2 MATERIAL EXAMINED. ��� French Guiana. Mitaraka, ��� Our Planet Reviewed ���, plateau forest, 2.233��N, ��� 54.444��W, swamp forest, 2.234��N, ��� 54.448��W, 2-5.III.2015. 50943-C30-2/3/2015 (3); 53151-D14-5/3/2015 (2); 53165-D30- 5/3/2015 (3); 53165-D40-5/3/2015 (6). DISTRIBUTION. ��� French Guiana., Published as part of Leponce, Maurice, Delabie, Jacques H. C., Orivel, J��r��me, Jacquemin, Justine, Martin, Mariano Calvo & Dejean, Alain, 2019, Tree-dwelling ant survey (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Mitaraka, French Guiana, pp. 163-179 in Zoosystema 41 (10) on page 176, DOI: 10.5252/zoosystema2019v41a10, http://zenodo.org/record/2652139

Solenopsis sp. 0 1 MATERIAL EXAMINED. ��� French Guiana. Mitaraka, ��� Our Planet Reviewed ���, plateau forest, 2.233��N, ��� 54.444��W, 27.II- 2.III.2015. 53171-C28-2/3/2015 (3); 50951-C14-27/2/2015 (15); 50954-C12- 27/2/2015 (46); 50955-C12-27/2/2015 (10); 50962-C08-2/3/2015 (1); 50968-C06-2/3/2015 (5). DISTRIBUTION. ��� French Guiana., Published as part of Leponce, Maurice, Delabie, Jacques H. C., Orivel, J��r��me, Jacquemin, Justine, Martin, Mariano Calvo & Dejean, Alain, 2019, Tree-dwelling ant survey (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Mitaraka, French Guiana, pp. 163-179 in Zoosystema 41 (10) on page 178, DOI: 10.5252/zoosystema2019v41a10, http://zenodo.org/record/2652139

Strumigenys sp. 0 1 MATERIAL EXAMINED. ��� French Guiana. Petit Saut dam, Zone de rel��cher, 5.068��N, ��� 52.980��W, 13.X.2010. 42877-PS04-13/10/2010 (1)., Published as part of Leponce, Maurice, Delabie, Jacques H. C., Orivel, J��r��me, Jacquemin, Justine, Martin, Mariano Calvo & Dejean, Alain, 2019, Tree-dwelling ant survey (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Mitaraka, French Guiana, pp. 163-179 in Zoosystema 41 (10) on page 176, DOI: 10.5252/zoosystema2019v41a10, http://zenodo.org/record/2652139

Crematogaster erecta Mayr, 1866 Crematogaster erecta Mayr, 1866: 902. MATERIAL EXAMINED. ��� French Guiana. Petit Saut dam, Zone de rel��cher, 5.068��N, ��� 52.980��W, 13-21.X.2010. 42877-PS04-13/10/2010 (1); 42903-PS02-14/10/2010 (1); 42905-PS04-14/10/2010 (1); 42935-PS02-15/10/2010 (1); 42936-PS02-15/10/2010 (1); 42937-PS02-15/10/2010 (1); 42939-PS04-15/10/2010 (1); 42940-PS04-15/10/2010 (1); 42947-PS07-15/10/2010 (1); 42948-PS09-15/10/2010 (1); 42949-PS09-15/10/2010 (1); 42950-PS09-15/10/2010 (1); 43016-PS21-19/10/2010 (1); 43051-PS21-20/10/2010 (1); 43052-PS21-21/10/2010 (1); 43072-PS40-20/10/2010 (1); 43074-PS39-20/10/2010 (1); 43093-PS43-20/10/2010 (1); 43099- PS40-20/10/2010 (1); 43100-PS40-20/10/2010 (1); 93101-PS39- 20/10/2010 (1). DISTRIBUTION. ��� Neotropical Region: Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica (type locality), Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Suriname., Published as part of Leponce, Maurice, Delabie, Jacques H. C., Orivel, J��r��me, Jacquemin, Justine, Martin, Mariano Calvo & Dejean, Alain, 2019, Tree-dwelling ant survey (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Mitaraka, French Guiana, pp. 163-179 in Zoosystema 41 (10) on page 177, DOI: 10.5252/zoosystema2019v41a10, http://zenodo.org/record/2652139, {"references":["MAYR G. 1866. - Diagnosen neuer und wenig gekannter Formiciden. Verhandlungen der Kaiserlich-Koniglichen Zoolo-gisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 16: 885 - 908. http: // doi. org / 10.5281 / zenodo. 25847"]}

Azteca cf. paraensis Forel, 1904 Azteca velox r. paraensis Forel, 1904: 45. Azteca paraensis ��� Forel 1906: 240. MATERIAL EXAMINED. ��� French Guiana. Mitaraka, ��� Our Planet Reviewed ���, plateau forest, 2.233��N, ��� 54.444��W, 27.II-3.III.2015. 50953-C12-27/2/2015 (5); 50961-C01-1/3/2015 (1); 50974-C12- 27/2/2015 (3); 53210-C21-3/3/2015 (1); 59961-C21-3/3/2015 (1). DISTRIBUTION. ��� French Guiana., Published as part of Leponce, Maurice, Delabie, Jacques H. C., Orivel, J��r��me, Jacquemin, Justine, Martin, Mariano Calvo & Dejean, Alain, 2019, Tree-dwelling ant survey (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Mitaraka, French Guiana, pp. 163-179 in Zoosystema 41 (10) on page 173, DOI: 10.5252/zoosystema2019v41a10, http://zenodo.org/record/2652139, {"references":["FOREL A. 1904. - Miscellanea myrmecologiques. Revue Suisse de Zoologie 12: 1 - 52. https: // biodiversitylibrary. org / page / 10228045"]}

Pheidole pepo Wilson, 2003 Pheidole pepo Wilson, 2003: 730. MATERIAL EXAMINED. ��� French Guiana. Mitaraka, ��� Our Planet Reviewed ���, plateau forest, 2.233��N, ��� 54.444��W, 2.III.2015. 53168-C26-2/3/2015 (1). DISTRIBUTION. ��� Neotropical Region: Colombia (type locality), French Guiana (new record)., Published as part of Leponce, Maurice, Delabie, Jacques H. C., Orivel, J��r��me, Jacquemin, Justine, Martin, Mariano Calvo & Dejean, Alain, 2019, Tree-dwelling ant survey (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Mitaraka, French Guiana, pp. 163-179 in Zoosystema 41 (10) on page 176, DOI: 10.5252/zoosystema2019v41a10, http://zenodo.org/record/2652139, {"references":["WILSON E. O. 2003. - Pheidole in the New World: A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA. 794 p."]}

Crematogaster limata Smith F., 1858 Crematogaster limatus Smith F., 1858: 139. MATERIAL EXAMINED. ��� French Guiana. Mitaraka, ��� Our Planet Reviewed ���, plateau forest, 2.233��N, ��� 54.444��W, 2.III.2015, Petit Saut dam, Zone de rel��cher, 5.068��N, ��� 52.980��W, 16-20.X.2010. 53137-C05-2/3/2015 (4). 42987-PS32-16/10/2010 (1); 42999-PS44-16/10/2010 (1); 43000-PS45-16/10/2010 (1); 43002-PS47-16/10/2010 (1); 43023-PS27-19/10/2010 (1); 43031-PS44-20/10/2010 (1); 43063- PS27-19/10/2010 (1). DISTRIBUTION. ��� Neotropical Region: Bolivia, Brazil (type locality), Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela., Published as part of Leponce, Maurice, Delabie, Jacques H. C., Orivel, J��r��me, Jacquemin, Justine, Martin, Mariano Calvo & Dejean, Alain, 2019, Tree-dwelling ant survey (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Mitaraka, French Guiana, pp. 163-179 in Zoosystema 41 (10) on page 177, DOI: 10.5252/zoosystema2019v41a10, http://zenodo.org/record/2652139

Pheidole cf. tobini Wilson, 2003 Pheidole tobini Wilson, 2003: 356. MATERIAL EXAMINED. ��� French Guiana. Petit Saut dam, Zone de rel��cher, 5.068��N, ��� 52.980��W, 13.X.2010. 42894-PS21-13/10/2010 (1). DISTRIBUTION. ��� Native in French Guiana., Published as part of Leponce, Maurice, Delabie, Jacques H. C., Orivel, J��r��me, Jacquemin, Justine, Martin, Mariano Calvo & Dejean, Alain, 2019, Tree-dwelling ant survey (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Mitaraka, French Guiana, pp. 163-179 in Zoosystema 41 (10) on page 176, DOI: 10.5252/zoosystema2019v41a10, http://zenodo.org/record/2652139, {"references":["WILSON E. O. 2003. - Pheidole in the New World: A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA. 794 p."]}

Megalomyrmex leoninus Forel, 1885 Megalomyrmex leoninus Forel, 1885: 372. MATERIAL EXAMINED. ��� French Guiana. Mitaraka, ��� Our Planet Reviewed ���, plateau forest, 2.233��N, ��� 54.444��W, 27.II.2015. 50949-C15-27/2/2015 (6). DISTRIBUTION. ��� Neotropical Region: Brazil, Colombia (type locality), Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela., Published as part of Leponce, Maurice, Delabie, Jacques H. C., Orivel, J��r��me, Jacquemin, Justine, Martin, Mariano Calvo & Dejean, Alain, 2019, Tree-dwelling ant survey (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Mitaraka, French Guiana, pp. 163-179 in Zoosystema 41 (10) on page 178, DOI: 10.5252/zoosystema2019v41a10, http://zenodo.org/record/2652139, {"references":["FOREL A. 1885. - Etudes myrmecologiques en 1884 avec une description des organes sensoriels des antennes. Bulletin de la Societe vaudoise des sciences naturelles 20: 316 - 380 https: // doi. org / 10.5281 / zenodo. 25568"]}

Species engaged in multiple, simultaneous mutualisms are subject to tradeoffs in their mutualistic investment if the traits involved in each interaction are overlapping, which can lead to conflicts and affect the longevity of these associations. We investigate this issue via a tripartite mutualism involving an ant plant, two competing ant species and a fungus the ants cultivate to build galleries under the stems of their host plant to capture insect prey. The use of the galleries represents an innovative prey capture strategy compared with the more typical strategy of foraging on leaves. However, because of a limited worker force in their colonies, the prey capture behaviour of the ants results in a trade-off between plant protection (i.e. the ants patrol the foliage and attack intruders including herbivores) and ambushing prey in the galleries, which has a cascading effect on the fitness of all of the partners. The quantification of partners' traits and effects showed that the two ant species differed in their mutualistic investment. Less investment in the galleries (i.e. in fungal cultivation) translated into more benefits for the plant in terms of less herbivory and higher growth rates and vice versa. However, the greater vegetative growth of the plants did not produce a positive fitness effect for the better mutualistic ant species in terms of colony size and production of sexuals nor was the mutualist compensated by the wider dispersal of its queens. As a consequence, although the better ant mutualist is the one that provides more benefits to its host plant, its lower host-plant exploitation does not give this ant species a competitive advantage. The local coexistence of the ant species is thus fleeting and should eventually lead to the exclusion of the less competitive species.

Background and Aims The plant Hirtella physophora, the ant Allomerus decemarticulatus and a fungus, Trimmatostroma sp., form a tripartite association. The ants manipulate both the plant trichomes and the fungus to build galleries under the stems of their host plant used to capture prey. In addition to its structural role, the fungus also improves nutrient uptake by the host plant. But it still remains unclear whether the fungus plays an indirect or a direct role in transferring nutrients to the plant. This study aimed to trace the transfer of N from the fungus to the plant's stem tissue. Methods Optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to investigate the presence of fungal hyphae in the stem tissues. Then, a N-15-labelling experiment was combined with a nanoscale secondary-ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS 50) isotopic imaging approach to trace the movement of added N-15 from the fungus to plant tissues. Key Results The TEM images clearly showed hyphae inside the stem tissue in the cellular compartment. Also, fungal hyphae were seen perforating the wall of the parenchyma cell. The N-15 provisioning of the fungus in the galleries resulted in significant enrichment of the N-15 signature of the plant's leaves 1 d after the N-15-labelling solution was deposited on the fungus-bearing trap. Finally, NanoSIMS imaging proved that nitrogen was transferred biotrophically from the fungus to the stem tissue. Conclusions This study provides evidence that the fungi are connected endophytically to an ant-plant system and actively transfer nitrogen from N-15-labelling solution to the plant's stem tissues. Overall, this study underlines how complex the trophic structure of ant-plant interactions is due to the presence of the fungus and provides insight into the possibly important nutritional aspects and tradeoffs involved in myrmecophyte-ant mutualisms.

© 2016 American Chemical Society. Animal venom peptides are currently being developed as novel drugs and bioinsecticides. Because ants use venoms for defense and predation, venomous ants represent an untapped source of potential bioactive toxins. This study compared the protein and peptide components of the poneroid ants Neoponera commutata, Neoponera apicalis, and Odontomachus hastatus and the formicoid ants Ectatomma tuberculatum, Ectatomma brunneum, and Myrmecia gulosa. 1D and 2D PAGE revealed venom proteins in the mass range 250 kDa. NanoLC-ESI-QTOF MS/MS analysis of tryptic peptides revealed the presence of common venom proteins and also many undescribed proteins. RP-HPLC separation followed by MALDI-TOF MS of the venom peptides also revealed considerable heterogeneity. It was found that the venoms contained between 144 and 1032 peptides with 5-95% of peptides in the ranges 1-4 and 1-8 kDa for poneroid and formicoid ants, respectively. By employing the reducing MALDI matrix 1,5-diaminonapthalene, up to 28 disulfide-bonded peptides were also identified in each of the venoms. In particular, the mass range of peptides from poneroid ants is lower than peptides from other venoms, indicating possible novel structures and pharmacologies. These results indicate that ant venoms represent an enormous, untapped source of novel therapeutic and bioinsecticide leads.

Until now the altitudinal factor has not been taken into account to estimate tropical arthropod diversity. The ultimate aim of the terrestrial biodiversity survey "Our Planet Reviewed – Papua New Guinea" was to estimate biological diversity generated by altitudinal turnover of arthropod species. It took place on Mount Wilhelm, Papua New Guinea highest peak (4509 m a.s.l.), and one of the few equatorial mountains outside the Andes left with a continuous undisturbed forest from the sea level all the way to the timber line limit. An unprecedented sampling effort was concentrated over 16 days in 2012 with a semi-simultaneous sampling at eight different elevations (every 500 m from 200 m to 3700 m a.s.l.). Arthropods were collected with various methods: flight interception traps (targeting Coleoptera), Malaise traps (targeting Hymenoptera, Diptera and Hemiptera), Steiner traps (targeting tephritid flies), beating of the understorey vegetation, and insecticide spraying on tree barks (various groups targeted). A botany survey was conducted at each elevation to characterize vegetation. An additional site, Wanang, was sampled according to the same protocol, as replicated lowland site. Our team combined international experts with local postgraduate students, para-ecologists and villagers. Arthropod samples collected during the biotic survey were pre-sorted in Papua New Guinea and forwarded to taxonomists worldwide. The current book presents the first taxonomic results of the biotic survey. Project outputs included not only species discovery, but also direct financial benefits to landowner communities, raised profile of conservation areas, training of paraecologists and postgraduate students, education programmes and, finally, crucial biodiversity information needed for ecological analyses and conservation management.

Myrmecophytism occurs in plants that offer ants a nesting space and, often, food rewards in exchange for protection from predators and competitors. Such biotic protection by ants can, however, interfere with the activity of pollinators leading to potential negative consequences for the plant's reproduction. In this study, we focused on the association between the understory myrmecophyte, Hirtella physophora (Chrysobalanaceae), and its obligate ant partner, Allomerus decemarticulatus (Myrmicinae). We investigated the reproductive biology of H. physophora and the putative mechanisms that may limit ant-pollinator conflict. Our results show that H. physophora is an obligate outcrosser, self-incompatible, and potentially insect-pollinated species. The reproduction of H. physophora relies entirely on pollen transfer by pollinators that are likely quite specific. Potential interference between flower-visiting insects during pollination may also be lessened by a spatial and temporal segregation of ant and pollinator activities, thus enabling pollen transfer and fruit production.

Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Rationale Compared with other animal venoms, ant venoms remain little explored. Ants have evolved complex venoms to rapidly immobilize arthropod prey and to protect their colonies from predators and pathogens. Many ants have retained peptide-rich venoms that are similar to those of other arthropod groups. Methods With the goal of conducting a broad and comprehensive survey of ant venom peptide diversity, we investigated the peptide composition of venoms from 82 stinging ant species from nine subfamilies using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS). We also conducted an in-depth investigation of eight venoms using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) separation coupled with offline MALDI-TOFMS. Results Our results reveal that the peptide compositions of ant venom peptidomes from both poneroid and formicoid ant clades comprise hundreds of small peptides (4 kDa) are also present in the venom of formicoids. Chemical reduction revealed the presence of disulfide-linked peptides in most ant subfamilies, including peptides structured by one, two or three disulfide bonds as well as dimeric peptides reticulated by three disulfide bonds. Conclusions The biochemical complexity of ant venoms, associated with an enormous ecological and taxonomic diversity, suggests that stinging ant venoms constitute a promising source of bioactive molecules that could be exploited in the search for novel drug and biopesticide leads.

© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) represent a taxonomically diverse group of arthropods comprising nearly 13,000 extant species. Sixteen ant subfamilies have individuals that possess a stinger and use their venom for purposes such as a defence against predators, competitors and microbial pathogens, for predation, as well as for social communication. They exhibit a range of activities including antimicrobial, haemolytic, cytolytic, paralytic, insecticidal and pain-producing pharmacologies. While ant venoms are known to be rich in alkaloids and hydrocarbons, ant venoms rich in peptides are becoming more common, yet remain understudied. Recent advances in mass spectrometry techniques have begun to reveal the true complexity of ant venom peptide composition. In the few venoms explored thus far, most peptide toxins appear to occur as small polycationic linear toxins, with antibacterial properties and insecticidal activity. Unlike other venomous animals, a number of ant venoms also contain a range of homodimeric and heterodimeric peptides with one or two interchain disulfide bonds possessing pore-forming, allergenic and paralytic actions. However, ant venoms seem to have only a small number of monomeric disulfide-linked peptides. The present review details the structure and pharmacology of known ant venom peptide toxins and their potential as a source of novel bioinsecticides and therapeutic agents.

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.

This article documents the addition of 268 microsatellite marker loci to the Molecular Ecology Resources Database. Loci were developed for the following species: Alburnoidesbipunctatus, Chamaeropshumilis, Chlidoniashybrida, Cyperuspapyrus, Fusariumgraminearum, Loxigillabarbadensis, Macrobrachiumrosenbergii, Odontesthesbonariensis, Pelteobagrusvachelli, Posidoniaoceanica, Potamotrygonmotoro, Rhamdia quelen, Sarotherodonmelanotheron heudelotii, Sibiraeaangustata, Takifugurubripes, Tarentolamauritanica, Trimmatostroma sp. and Wallagoattu. These loci were cross-tested on the following species: Alburnoides fasciatus, Alburnoides kubanicus, Alburnoides maculatus, Alburnoides ohridanus, Alburnoides prespensis, Alburnoides rossicus, Alburnoides strymonicus, Alburnoides thessalicus, Alburnoides tzanevi, Carassius carassius, Fusarium asiaticum, Leucaspius delineatus, Loxigilla noctis dominica, Pelecus cultratus, Phoenix canariensis, Potamotrygon falkneri, Trachycarpus fortune and Vimba vimba.

In the mutualisms involving the myrmecophyte Cecropia obtusa and Azteca ovaticeps or A. alfari, both predatory, the ants defend their host trees from enemies and provide them with nutrients (myrmecotrophy). A. ovaticeps provisioned with prey and then N-15-enriched food produced more individuals than did control colonies (not artificially provisioned). This was not true for A. alfari colonies, possibly due to differences in the degree of maturity of the colonies for the chosen range of host tree sizes (less than 3 m in height). Myrmecotrophy was demonstrated for both Azteca species as provisioning the ants with N-15-enriched food translated into higher delta N-15 values in host plant tissues, indicating that nitrogen passed from the food to the plant. Thus, the predatory activity of their guest ants benefits the Cecropia trees not only because the ants protect them from defoliators since most prey are phytophagous insects but also because the plant absorbs nutrients.

International audience