Dispersal of Miconia argentea seeds by the leaf-cutting ant Atta colombica

1998 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 705-710 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. Dalling ◽  
Rainer Wirth
Keyword(s):  
Seedling Recruitment ◽  
Atta Cephalotes ◽  
Brazilian Cerrado ◽  
Atta Laevigata ◽  
Cerrado Vegetation ◽  
Brosimum Alicastrum ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Single Night ◽  
Local Recruitment ◽  
Atta Colombica

While leaf-cutter ants are thought to collect mainly vegetative plant material, they have also been observed collecting seeds or fruit parts on the forest floor (Alvarez-Buylla & Martínez-Ramos 1990, Kaspari 1996). For example, leaf-cutter ants have been observed carrying considerable numbers of Brosimum alicastrum Sw. and Cecropia spp. seeds into their nests (Wirth 1996) and Leal & Oliveira (1998; pers. comm.) found them foraging on the fruits and seeds of 19 different species of Brazilian cerrado vegetation, including six Miconia species. Under some circumstances, seed removal and relocation by leaf cutter ants might even be sufficient to affect local recruitment patterns of trees. For example, in Costa Rica, Atta cephalotes can remove all fallen fig fruit from beneath a Ficus hondurensis crown in a single night (Roberts & Heithaus 1986), while in Venezuela, seedling recruitment of the savanna tree Tapirira velutinifolia was positively associated with the seed harvesting and seed cleaning activities of the ant Atta laevigata (Farji Brenner & Silva 1996).

scholarly journals Occurrence of Leaf-Cutting and Grass-Cutting Ants of the Genus Atta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Geographic Regions of Brazil

Sociobiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 514
Author(s):  
Luiz Carlos Forti ◽  
Jael Santos Rando ◽  
Roberto Da Silva Camargo ◽  
Aldenise Alves Moreira ◽  
Maria Aparecida Castellani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Region ◽  
Atta Cephalotes ◽  
The South ◽  
Atta Sexdens ◽  
Atta Laevigata ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Geographic Regions ◽  
Atta Opaciceps ◽  
Southeastern Region ◽  
Comprehensive Study

Leaf-cutting ants are widely distributed in Brazil, particularly species of the genus Atta. We therefore described the occurrence of leaf-cutting and grass-cutting ant species of the genus Atta. Five routes comprising some of the main highways in the South, Southeast, Center-West, and North of Brazil were sampled, in addition to ants received from other 82 municipalities, composing 300 municipalities sampled. This is the first comprehensive study of Atta in Brazil. The following species were found: A. laevigata, A. capiguara, A. sexdens rubropilosa, A. sexdens piriventris, A. sexdens sexdens and A. cephalotes. Atta laevigata and A. capiguara were the species present in the largest number of the Brazilian municipalities sampled. Atta laevigata assumed the position of species of greatest occurrence in the Brazilian territory. Atta sexdens piriventris was only recorded in the southern region of Brazil. Atta bisphaerica presented lower expansion than A. capiguara. Atta cephalotes and Atta opaciceps are species of very restricted occurrence. Southeastern region was characterized by the occurrence of A. capiguara and A. laevigata. Atta laevigata exhibited a generalized pattern of occurrence in the Center-West and North. Our study contributes to a better understanding of the so far unknown occurrence of leaf-cutting and grass-cutting ants within Brazil.

scholarly journals Forager Polymorphism and Foraging Ecology in the Leaf-Cutting Ant,Atta colombica

1995 ◽  
Vol 102 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 131-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
James K. Wetterer
Keyword(s):  
Foraging Ecology ◽  
Size Range ◽  
Close Relative ◽  
Atta Cephalotes ◽  
Specific Density ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Atta Colombica

I compare forager size and foraging selectivity of the leaf-cutting antAtta colombicaand that of its close relativeAtta cephalotes. In both species, larger foragers cut fragments of greater mass and area, and at vegetation sources of greater specific density (mass/area). However, the size-range ofA. colombicaforagers (1.5–56.8 mg) was wider than the range typical forA. cephalotes(1.4–32.1 mg). InA. colombica, the maxima workers (24–60 mg) commonly participate in foraging, making up 13% of all foragers in this study and in a previous study. In contrast,A. cephalotesmaxima workers (24–100 mg) rarely forage (less than 1% of all foragers in two previous studies), but instead serve primarily as soldiers defending the nest. Thus,A. colombicamaxima workers are smaller and do not appear to be so specialized as soldiers as areA. cephalotesmaxima workers. The broader size-range of workers participating in foraging appears to allowA. colombicato exploit a wider range of resources thanA. cephalotes, including tougher, denser vegetation and fallen fruits.

Traffic Dynamics of the Leaf-Cutting Ant, Atta cephalotes

2002 ◽  
Vol 159 (3) ◽  
pp. 283
Author(s):  
Burd ◽  
Archer ◽  
Aranwela ◽  
Stradling
Keyword(s):  
Atta Cephalotes ◽  
Traffic Dynamics ◽  
Leaf Cutting

Rates of growth of the food fungus of the leaf-cutting ant Atta cephalotes (L.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on different substrates gathered by the ants

1979 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Mudd ◽  
G. L. Bateman
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Availability ◽  
Plant Material ◽  
Growth Inhibitors ◽  
Atta Cephalotes ◽  
Leaf Extracts ◽  
Relative Growth ◽  
Relative Growth Rates ◽  
Foraging Preferences ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Rates Of Growth

AbstractGrowth of the food fungus of the leaf-cutting ant Atta cephalotes (L.) on extracts of plants selected by the ants was shown to be affected by the plant species, the pH of the extract, the concentration of the sap or plant extract and pretreatment of the substrate by the ants. It was not possible to establish an unambiguous relationship between the rate of growth of the fungus on leaf extracts and the foraging preferences of the ants for the leaves. There were indications, however, that the fungus grows most rapidly on extracts of plant material preferred by A. cephalotes. Relative growth rates of the fungus on different substrates may be related to the presence of growth inhibitors rather than to nutrient availability.

scholarly journals Seasonal Parasitism of the Leaf-Cutting Ant Atta sexdens Linnaeus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) by Phorid Flies (Diptera: Phoridae) in a Brazilian Cerrado-Atlantic Forest Ecotone

2020 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 112
Author(s):  
Cliver Fernandes Farder-Gomes ◽  
Marco Antônio de Oliveira ◽  
Ana Carolina Ribeiro de Oliveira ◽  
Pollyana Leão Gonçalves ◽  
Evaldo Martins Pires ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Brazilian Cerrado ◽  
Atta Sexdens ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Phorid Flies ◽  
Forest Ecotone

Particulate organic matter in soil under different management systems in the Brazilian Cerrado

Soil Research ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 50 (8) ◽  
pp. 685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arcângelo Loss ◽  
Marcos Gervasio Pereira ◽  
Adriano Perin ◽  
Fernando Silva Coutinho ◽  
Lúcia Helena Cunha dos Anjos
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
The Other ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Brazilian Cerrado ◽  
Cerrado Vegetation ◽  
No Till ◽  
Planting System

The combination of the no-till planting system (NTS) and pasture (e.g. brachiaria grass, Urochloa sp.) for livestock production constitutes a crop–livestock integration (CLI) system. CLI systems significantly increase the total organic carbon (TOC) content of soil and the particulate organic carbon (POC) of soil organic matter (SOM). The present study evaluated TOC and the granulometric fractions of SOM under different management systems in a Cerrado area in the state of Goiás. Two areas applying crop rotation were evaluated, one using CLI (corn/brachiaria grass/bean/cotton/soybean planted sequentially) and the other NTS (sunflower/pearl millet/soybean/corn planted sequentially). A third area covered with natural Cerrado vegetation (Cerradão) served as a reference to determine original soil conditions. Soil was randomly sampled at 0–5, 5–10, 10–20, and 20–40 cm. The TOC, POC, and mineral-associated organic carbon (MOC) were assessed, and POC and MOC stocks calculated. The CLI system resulted in greater TOC levels than NTS (0–5, 5–10, and 10–20 cm). Compared with the Cerradão, CLI areas exhibited higher stocks of TOC (at 5–10 and 10–20 cm) and POC (at 0–40 cm). Results obtained for TOC and POC fractions show that land management with CLI was more efficient in increasing SOM than NTS. Moreover, when compared with NTS, the CLI system provided better POC stratification.

Size-related foraging behaviour of the leaf-cutting ant Atta colombica

1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (6) ◽  
pp. 1530-1533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dave Shutler ◽  
Adele Mullie
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Foraging Theory ◽  
Costa Rican ◽  
Leaf Cutting ◽  
Foraging Trail ◽  
Atta Colombica ◽  
Load Mass

In a Costa Rican forest adjacent to cattle pasture, larger individuals of the leaf-cutting ant Atta colombica carried heavier loads and foraged farther from the colony, as predicted by foraging theory. Counter to foraging theory, individual ants did not increase their load mass if they foraged farther from the colony. However, the colony avoided this apparent inefficiency by sending larger ants to more distant trees. The colony harvested simultaneously from several individuals of the same tree species, even though distant trees were twice as far from the colony as nearby trees. The reasons for this behaviour require further investigation. In a wide foraging trail, larger ants travelled faster than their smaller counterparts. In addition, ant velocity was reduced when loads were experimentally supplemented, and increased when loads were experimentally reduced. Ants using narrow trails in the leaf litter may all be constrained to travel at the same speed, irrespective of load or body size, simply because they get in each other's way.

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