Code of Ant-Plant Mutualism Broken by Parasite
Code of Ant-Plant Mutualism Broken by Parasite
复制标题
蚂蚁与植物互惠共生的密码被寄生虫打破
作者：
D. Letourneau
新发现的叶甲虫是一种互利共生的寄生虫。热带森林中的胡椒蚁植物为 Pheidok bicornis 蚂蚁提供富含脂质和蛋白质的食物细胞和庇护所，而蚂蚁则清除树叶上的小型食草动物和藤蔓。与所有其他蚂蚁植物不同，胡椒蚁植物只有在植物中存在 Pheidole bicornis 时才会产生食物体。然而，叶甲虫可以刺激植物产生食物体，就像蚂蚁在场一样。然后甲虫栖息在植物中，为蚂蚁利用植物的巢穴和植物产生的食物。这些甲虫还可能捕食蚂蚁窝，剥夺植物由蚂蚁提供的资源和服务。
Newly discovered Phyllobaenus beetles are parasites of a mutualism. Piper ant-plants in tropical forests provide lipid and protein-rich food cells and shelter for Pheidok bicornis ants while the ants remove small herbivores and vines from the foliage. In contrast to all other ant-plants, Piper ant-plants produce food bodies only when Pheidole bicornis is present in the plant. However, Phyllobaenus beetles can stimulate the plants to produce food bodies as if ants were present. The beetles then inhabit the plant, exploiting nest sites and food produced by the plants for ants. These beetles may also prey on ant brood, depriving the plants of resources and services provided by the ants.