Abstract
Resource-ratio theory predicts that consumers should achieve optimal ratios of complementary nutrients. Accordingly, different trophic groups are expected to vary in their N-limitation depending on the extent to which they feed primarily on carbohydrate (CHO) or protein. Among arboreal ants, N-limitation ranges from high (for trophobiont tenders), intermediate (leaf foragers) and low (predators). We report results from a manipulative field experiment in a Brazilian savanna that tests the differential attractiveness of nitrogen and CHO to arboreal ants, as well as experimentally examines changes in broader ant foraging patterns in response to protein and CHO supplementation. Every tree within 32 20 × 20 m plots were supplemented with either protein, CHO; protein + CHO or a water control (n = 8 in each case) for a 7-day period in each of the wet and dry seasons. As predicted, different trophic groups responded differentially to supplementation treatment according to the extent of their N-limitation. The richness and abundance of the most N-limited group (trophobiont tenders) was highest at protein supplements, whereas less N-limited trophic groups showed highest species richness (leaf foragers) or abundance (predators) at CHO supplements. Protein supplementation markedly increased the general foraging abundance of trophobiont tenders, but decreased the abundance of leaf foragers. We attribute the latter to increased competition from behaviorally dominant trophobiont tenders. Our study provides experimental evidence that nutrient availability is a major factor influencing arboreal ant communities, both directly through the provision of different resources, and indirectly through increased competitive pressure.
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All data from the full experiment have been deposited in the Figshare. http://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.5930341 (Ribeiro et al. 2019).
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Acknowledgements
We are very grateful for the many students from Universidade Federal de Viçosa and volunteers from Parque Nacional da Serra do Cipó who assisted in the fieldwork, Ana Paula Pereira, Josielle Evaristo, Larissa Freitas and Scarlett Reis for help with laboratory work, Júlio Chaul, Rodrigo de Jesus and Gabriela Camacho for assisting with ant identification. We are also thank the staff of Serra do Cipó National Park for logistical support and accommodation, and ICMBio for the collection permits.
Funding
This study was supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq 442205/2014-7), and the authors were supported by grants from CNPq and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior.
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LFR conceived the rationale of the manuscript and the sampling design, with input from all authors. LFR collected the data. RRCS and LFR analyzed and interpreted the data. LFR wrote initial draft of the manuscript and all authors contributed to further manuscript development and gave final approval for publication.
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Communicated by Nina Farwig.
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Ribeiro, L.F., Solar, R.R.C., Sobrinho, T.G. et al. Different trophic groups of arboreal ants show differential responses to resource supplementation in a neotropical savanna. Oecologia 190, 433–443 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-019-04414-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-019-04414-z