The role of resource imbalances in the evolutionary ecology of tropical arboreal ants
The role of resource imbalances in the evolutionary ecology of tropical arboreal ants
复制标题
资源失衡在热带树栖蚂蚁进化生态中的作用
DOI：
10.1111/j.1095-8312.1997.tb01785.x
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发表时间：
1997
影响因子：
1.9
通讯作者：
D. Davidson
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
D. Davidson
摘要热带雨林林冠节肢动物区系中，蚂蚁（Hypltera，Formicidae）在数量和生物量上均占优势。蚂蚁的数量之所以如此之多，主要是因为有一种或几种蚂蚁能够以植物和同翅目昆虫的分泌物为食，从而利用树冠树叶的高生产力。氮同位素比值的先前研究表明，分泌物饲养者通过处理大量的氮贫，但碳水化合物（CHO）丰富的分泌物获得了大量的氮（N）。超过那些可以与蛋白质偶联用于生长和繁殖的CHO（假定为殖民地的第一优先事项），可以以很小的成本和一些利润被引导到增加对限制蛋白质的获取的功能。高饮食CHO：蛋白质比例的渗出物饲养者似乎补贴“高克里思”觅食活动，绝对（III级）领土的防御，和生产无N报警/防御外分泌产品，增强生态优势，在与其他蚂蚁的比赛。在与蚂蚁共生的生物体（如植物和鳞翅目）中，蚂蚁奖励的CHO：蛋白质比例可以控制蚂蚁同伙的身份和蚂蚁提供的服务的质量。食物中CHO与蛋白质的比例在蚂蚁的生态学和进化中起着重要的作用。在某些蚂蚁亚科和属中，工蚁消化系统的改变代表了处理和加工大量液体食物的关键创新。最高的热带优势种是从巢址限制中释放出来的物种，能够将它们的巢安置在丰富的渗出物资源附近。多居似乎是典型的这些物种，并应产生积极的储蓄采取殖民地碎片的资源。
Abstract In numbers and biomass, ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) often dominate arthropod faunas of tropical rainforest canopies. Extraordinary ant abundance is due principally to one or a few species able to tap the high productivity of canopy foliage by feeding on plant and homopteran exudates. Prior studies of nitrogen isotopic ratios show that exudate-feeders derive much of their nitrogen (N) by processing large quantities of N-poor, but carbohydrate (CHO)-rich, exudates. CHOs in excess of those that can be coupled with protein for growth and reproduction (postulated as the colony's first priorities) may be directed at little cost and some profit to functions that increase access to limiting protein. High dietary CHO:protein ratios for exudate-feeders appear to subsidize «high tempo» foraging activity, defence of absolute (level III) territories, and production of N-free alarm/defence exocrine products that enhance ecological dominance in contests with other ants. Among organisms (e.g. plants and Lepidoptera) symbiotic with ants, CHO:protein ratios of ant rewards may control both the identities of ant associates and the quality of ant-rendered services. Dietary ratios of CHO:protein play an important and previously unrecognized role in the ecology and evolution of ants generally. Modifications of worker digestive systems in certain ant sub-families and genera represent key innovations for handling and processing large volumes of liquid food. The supreme tropical dominants are species released from nest site limitation and able to place their nests in the vicinity of abundant exudate resources. Polydomy appears to be typical of these species and should produce energetic savings by taking colony fragments to the resource.