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Extrafloral nectaries exhibit dual ecological functions in a plant from the Brazilian Cerrado

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Abstract

Extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) are nectar-secreting plant glands not related to pollination. Several not mutually exclusive hypotheses explain the ecological function of EFNs. We focused on the (1) protection hypothesis, which predicts the attraction of natural enemies by the extrafloral nectar, providing indirect defense to plants against herbivores, and the (2) ant-distracting hypothesis, which predicts the distraction of ants away from sap-sucking herbivores secreting sugary rewards (honeydew). We aimed to test both hypotheses simultaneously to understand the relative ecological roles of EFNs in a model plant from the Brazilian Cerrado. We experimentally manipulated plant groups according to the presence or absence of EFNs and hemipterans during two years of field study (2018 and 2019). We found some support for both hypotheses. Extrafloral nectaries reduced the damage caused by herbivores by attracting predatory ants, although plants with both EFNs and hemipterans showed the highest herbivory reduction in 2018. The presence of neither EFNs nor hemipterans was associated with increased fruit production. The honeydew, which had higher sugar concentrations than the extrafloral nectar, was used by ants for longer periods. However, more than 70% of the ants were observed feeding on the extrafloral nectar instead of honeydew. We suggest that the relatively high quantity of EFNs can compensate for their lower quality and still reduce the number of ants attending and protecting hemipterans, ultimately mitigating plant damage. In summary, EFNs may fit multiple functions depending on the ecological context.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamental e de Interações (LECI), two anonymous reviewers, and Dr. Avery Russell for interesting discussions and suggestions that improved the quality of this manuscript. LRS thanks the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) for funding – Finance Code 001.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dead Sea and Arava Science Center, Masada, Israel

    Renan Fernandes Moura

  2. Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel

    Renan Fernandes Moura

  3. Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Liégy Resende dos Santos, Vitor Miguel da Costa Silva & Kleber Del-Claro

  4. Universidade da Integração Internacional da Lusofonia Afro-Brasileira, Redenção, CE, Brazil

    Roberth Fagundes

  5. Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil

    Kleber Del-Claro

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  1. Renan Fernandes Moura
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Correspondence to Renan Fernandes Moura.

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Moura, R.F., dos Santos, L.R., da Costa Silva, V.M. et al. Extrafloral nectaries exhibit dual ecological functions in a plant from the Brazilian Cerrado. Arthropod-Plant Interactions 17, 301–311 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-023-09965-w

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