Absorption of ant-provided carbon dioxide and nitrogen by a tropical epiphyte

A study demonstrates the mutualistic relationship between ants of the genus Philidris and their host, Dischidia major. Using stable isotope analysis, it is calculated that 39% of the carbon in occupied host plant leaves is derived from ant-related respiration and that 29% of the host nitrogen is der...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Nature (London) Vol. 375; no. 6527; pp. 137 - 139
Main Authors:	Treseder, Kathleen K, Davidson, Diane W, Ehleringer, James R
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	London Nature Publishing 11-05-1995 Nature Publishing Group
Subjects:	Biological and medical sciences Biology Carbon dioxide Flowers & plants Formicidae Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology Hymenoptera Insects Leaves Nitrogen Parasitism and symbiosis Plant physiology and development Stable isotopes Symbiosis Malaysia Dolichoderidae Insecta Asclepiadaceae Epiphyte Carbon dioxide Plant leaf Formicoidea Mutualism Absorption Arthropoda Dicotyledones Angiospermae Spermatophyta Hymenoptera Invertebrata Respiration Aculeata
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Summary:	A study demonstrates the mutualistic relationship between ants of the genus Philidris and their host, Dischidia major. Using stable isotope analysis, it is calculated that 39% of the carbon in occupied host plant leaves is derived from ant-related respiration and that 29% of the host nitrogen is derived from debris deposited into the leaf cavities by ants.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-1 content type line 23
ISSN:	0028-0836 1476-4687
DOI:	10.1038/375137a0