Stable N-isotope signatures of central European ants - assessing positions in a trophic gradient
Stable N-isotope signatures of central European ants - assessing positions in a trophic gradient
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DOI：
10.1007/s00040-007-0959-0
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发表时间：
2007-01-01
期刊：
影响因子：
1.3
通讯作者：
Gebauer, G.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Fiedler, K.;Kuhlmann, F.;Gebauer, G.
利用稳定同位素技术的研究极大地促进了对热带蚂蚁营养关系的理解，但温带蚂蚁仍处于探索阶段。我们研究了三角洲N-15值的43个蚂蚁物种从三个亚科在中欧采样。经过统计核算海拔和地理位置的栖息地，改变生态系统中的氮的同位素组成的影响，显着的N-同位素签名的模式进行了检测。这些签名暗示了蚂蚁之间的差异，在贡献的植物来源的氮通过营养共生和nectarivory相对于通过捕食和清除获得的氮。在一般情况下，Myrmicinae有较高的Δ N-15值比蚁科，在后者的营养共生的相对重要性更大。桃金娘属得分特别高，表明主要是捕食性氮源。值得注意的是，也granivore Messor cf.结构体具有高Δ N-15值。这表明，尽管食物摄取的主要部分是由植物种子，这种蚂蚁可以从节肢动物的尸体或脊椎动物的粪便中获得相当大一部分的氮预算。此外，这突出表明，从观察到的食物摄入量中扣除其对蚂蚁物质平衡的相对贡献，应该伴随着同位素分析。在光谱的另一端，Camponotus和Plagiolepis具有较低的Δ N-15值。根据多个实地观察，这表明营养共生不仅对它们的能量有贡献，而且对它们的氮收支也有贡献。富蚁和Lasius有中间N-15值，这与目前的观点一致，这些蚂蚁有混合饮食与营养和捕食之间的平衡。几个属的同位素签名的内共生细菌的可能影响进行了讨论。这项研究提供了稳定同位素技术的第一个应用程序，以估计植物来源的营养素的氮预算的更大范围的中欧蚂蚁的作用。此外，它表明，N-同位素分析是适用于跨扩展的生态和地理梯度。未来沿着这条路线进行的研究有望补充我们目前对温带蚂蚁营养生态学的了解。沿着这条路线进行的研究有望补充我们目前对温带蚂蚁营养生态学的了解。
Studies employing stable isotope technology have greatly contributed to understanding trophic relationships of tropical ants, but temperate-zone ants remain under-explored. We studied delta N-15 values of 43 ant species from three subfamilies sampled across central Europe. After statistically accounting for the effects of elevation and geographical location of habitats, which alter the isotopic composition of nitrogen in ecosystems, significant patterns in N-isotope signatures were detected. These signatures hint at differences across ants in the contribution of plant-derived nitrogen obtained via trophobiosis and nectarivory relative to nitrogen obtained via predation and scavenging. In general, Myrmicinae had higher delta N-15 values than Formicinae, in line with a greater relative importance of trophobiosis in the latter. The genus Myrmica scored especially high, indicating predominantly predacious nitrogen sources. Remarkably, also the granivore Messor cf. structor had high delta N-15 values. This suggests that, despite the major portion of food uptake being made up by plant seeds, this ant could derive substantial fractions of its nitrogen budget from feeding on arthropod corpses or vertebrate faeces. Moreover, this highlights that deductions from observed quantities of ingested food on its relative contribution to ants' matter balance should be accompanied by isotope analyses. At the other end of the spectrum, Camponotus and Plagiolepis had low delta N-15 values. In line with multiple field observations, this suggests a contribution of trophobiosis not only to their energy, but also to their nitrogen budget. Formica and Lasius had intermediate N-15 values, which is in agreement with the current view that these ants have mixed diets with a balance between trophobiosis and predation. A possible influence of endosymbiotic bacteria on the isotope signatures of several genera is discussed. This study provides a first application of stable isotope technology to estimate the role of plant-derived nutrients to the nitrogen budget of a larger range of central European ants. Furthermore, it shows that N-isotope analysis is applicable across extended ecological and geographical gradients. Future studies along this line are promising to complement our current understanding of the nutritional ecology of temperate-zone ants.