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Eucharitid ant-parasitoid affects facultative ant-plant Leea manillensis: top-down effects through three trophic levels

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Abstract

Facultative ant–plant mutualisms are variable systems, shaped by a number of biotic and abiotic factors. Especially in tropical ecosystems, the generally assumed mutualistic benefits are often hard to prove. We studied the system Leea manillensis on the Philippine island Panay and its indirect defence mechanism against herbivory by producing extrafloral nectar therewith attracting ants. Unexpectedly, we found an ant-parasitoid wasp from the genus Chalcura (Eucharitidae) to have a strong influence on the system, on ants as well as on plants. The parasitoid not only altered the behaviour of interacting ant species, but also directly and indirectly affected the plants’ fitness. This study demonstrates how top-down effects may alter species interactions and have a massive effect on mutualisms and their beneficial outcome.

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Acknowledgments

The study was generously supported by the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service). We are very grateful to the Philippine NGO PhilinCon and the staff of the research station Sibaliw for their support, especially Benjamin S. Tacud jr. and Junmar E. Jamangal. We thank the PASU Rhodel B. Lababit (DENR) for the generous permission to work at the NW Panay Natural Park. We also thank Stefan Schmidt (ZMS) for the determination of the parasitoid wasp.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biozentrum, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany

    Christoph Schwitzke, Brigitte Fiala & K. Eduard Linsenmair

  2. Conservation Biology Unit, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, ND 1/31 Universitaetsstrasse 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany

    Eberhard Curio

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  1. Christoph Schwitzke
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  2. Brigitte Fiala
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  3. K. Eduard Linsenmair
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  4. Eberhard Curio
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Correspondence to Christoph Schwitzke.

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Schwitzke, C., Fiala, B., Linsenmair, K.E. et al. Eucharitid ant-parasitoid affects facultative ant-plant Leea manillensis: top-down effects through three trophic levels. Arthropod-Plant Interactions 9, 497–505 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-015-9391-y

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