Abstract
Predator activities may lead to the accumulation of nutrients in specific areas of terrestrial habitats where they dispose of prey carcasses. In their feeding sites, predators may increase nutrient availability in the soil and favor plant nutrition and growth. However, the translocation of nutrients from one habitat to another may depend on predator identity and diet, as well as on the amount of prey intake. Here we used isotopic (15N) and physiological methods in greenhouse experiments to evaluate the effects of the identity of predatory ants (i.e., the consumption of prey and nest sites) on the nutrition and growth of the bromeliad Quesnelia arvensis. We showed that predatory ants with protein-based nutrition (i.e., Odontomachus hastatus, Gnamptogenys moelleri) improved the performance of their host bromeliads (i.e., increased foliar N, production of soluble proteins and growth). On the other hand, the contribution of Camponotus crassus for the nutritional status of bromeliads did not differ from bromeliads without ants, possibly because this ant does not have arthropod prey as a preferred food source. Our results show, for the first time, that predatory ants can translocate nutrients from one habitat to another within forests, accumulating nutrients in their feeding sites that become available to bromeliads. Additionally, we highlight that ant contribution to plant nutrition may depend on predator identity and its dietary requirements. Nest debris may be especially important for epiphytic and terrestrial bromeliads in nutrient-poor environments.
Highlights
Ecological research has increasingly focused on the links between species interactions and ecosystem functioning [1, 2]
The δ15N values of enriched Tenebrio larvae, of the ants Odontomachus hastatus, Gnamptogenys moelleri and Camponotus crassus that fed on the enriched Tenebrio indicate that these materials were enriched during the experiment (Table 1)
We found that the ant species with protein as their main food source (i.e., Odontomachus hastatus, Gnamptogenys moelleri) had a higher contribution to the performance of their host bromeliads
Summary
Ecological research has increasingly focused on the links between species interactions and ecosystem functioning [1, 2]. Predators have a significant influence on ecosystems by affecting prey populations, and controlling the dynamics of nutrients, either by cascading effects through herbivore-plant-decomposers or directly through their excreta and activity of nutrient translocation [2]. As predators capture prey and transport them to their feeding sites, they may redistribute nutrients between habitats [3, 4]. Nutrient translocation by predators has been observed in riparian zones by bears that release marine and freshwater nutrients through.
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