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Aspects of the morphology and ecology of two Panamanian ant-plants, Hoffmannia vesciculifera (Rubiaceae) and Besleria formicaria (Gesneriaceae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

Donald M. Windsor  and
Pierre Jolivet
Donald M. Windsor
Affiliation:
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 2072, Balboa-Ancon, Republic of Panama, and 67 Bd Soult, 75012 Paris, France
Pierre Jolivet
Affiliation:
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 2072, Balboa-Ancon, Republic of Panama, and 67 Bd Soult, 75012 Paris, France
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Abstract

Two formicarial ant-plants endemic to Panama and adjacent areas of Costa Rica co-occur in mid-elevation cloud forest yet have distinctive modifications to house and feed small, retiring ants. Besleria formicaria (Gesneriaceae) hosts only Pheidole sp. which harvest the oil-rich seeds of its host and other plants and insect parts. Hoffmannia vesciculifera (Rubiaceae) hosts only Solenopsis sp. ants which obtain lipid and possibly other nutrients from vescicular tissues. Judging by their abundance in refuse deposits, fern sporangia appear to be a plentiful and evenly distributed resource exploited by both ant species.

Keywords

ant-plantsBesleria formicariaHoffmannia vesciculiferaPanamaPheidole spSolenopsis sp
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 12 , Issue 6 , November 1996 , pp. 835 - 842
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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