Ants on plants: a meta-analysis of the role of ants as plant biotic defenses

• Published in: Oecologia Vol. 160; no. 3; pp. 537 - 549
• Main Authors: Rosumek, Felix B, Silveira, Fernando A. O, de S. Neves, Frederico, de U. Barbosa, Newton P, Diniz, Livia, Oki, Yumi, Pezzini, Flavia, Fernandes, G. Wilson, Cornelissen, Tatiana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Berlin/Heidelberg : Springer-Verlag 01.06.2009; Springer; Springer-Verlag; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Ants; Ants - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Climate; Ecological competition; Ecology; foods; Formicidae; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; growth & development; Hemiptera; Hemiptera - physiology; Herbivores; Herbivory; Hydrology/Water Resources; Insect ecology; Insect reproduction; leaves; Life Sciences; meta-analysis; nectaries; physiology; Phytophagous insects; Plant biomass; plant damage; Plant Leaves; Plant Leaves - growth & development; Plant Physiological Phenomena; Plant reproduction; Plant Sciences; Plant-Animal Interactions - Original Paper; Plant-Animal Interactions - Original Papers; Plants; Population Density; Predators; Symbiosis; Temperate regions; Tropical environments; Tropical plants; Tropical regions; Formicidae; Herbivory; Ant–plant interaction; Indirect interactions; Ant–plant mutualism; Biochemical analysis; Herbivorous; Insecta; Interaction; Ant―plant mutualism; Social insect; Formicoidea; Mutualism; Metaanalysis; Arthropoda; Ant―plant interaction; Defense mechanism; Hymenoptera; Invertebrata; Aculeata

We reviewed the evidence on the role of ants as plant biotic defenses, by conducting meta-analyses for the effects of experimental removal of ants on plant herbivory and fitness with data pooled from 81 studies. Effects reviewed were plant herbivory, herbivore abundance, hemipteran abundance, predat...