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Effect of leaf-cutting ant nests on plant growth in an oligotrophic Amazon rain forest

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2012

Amartya K. Saha ,
Karine S. Carvalho ,
Leonel da S. L. Sternberg  and
Paulo Moutinho
Amartya K. Saha*
Affiliation:
Southeastern Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
Karine S. Carvalho
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Av. José Moreira Sobrinho, 45206-190, Jequié, BA, Brazil
Leonel da S. L. Sternberg
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL33124, USA
Paulo Moutinho
Affiliation:
Instituto de Pesquisa Ambiental da Amazônia, Av. Nazaré 669, 66035-170, Belém, PA, Brazil
*
1Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
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Abstract:

This study examined whether high nutrient concentrations associated with leaf-cutting ant nests influence plant growth and plant water relations in Amazon rain forests. Three nests of Atta cephalotes were selected along with 31 Amaioua guianensis and Protium sp. trees that were grouped into trees near and distant (>10 m) from nests. A 15N leaf-labelling experiment confirmed that trees located near nests accessed nutrients from nests. Trees near nests exhibited higher relative growth rates (based on stem diameter increases) on average compared with trees further away; however this was significant for A. guianensis (near nest 0.224 y−1 and far from nest 0.036 y−1) but not so for Protium sp. (0.146 y−1 and 0.114 y−1 respectively). Water relations were similarly species-specific; for A. guianensis, near-nest individuals showed significantly higher sap flow rates (16 vs. 5 cm h−1), higher predawn/midday water potentials (−0.66 vs. −0.98 MPa) and lower foliar δ13C than trees further away indicating greater water uptake in proximity to the nests while the Protium sp. showed no significant difference except for carbon isotopes. This study thus shows that plant response to high nutrient concentrations in an oligotrophic ecosystem varies with species. Lower seedling abundance and species richness on nests as compared with further away suggests that while adult plants access subterranean nutrient pools, the nest surfaces themselves do not encourage plant establishment and growth.

Keywords

Amaioua guianensisAmazonAtta cephalotesleaf-cutting ant nestnutrient concentrationsnutrient uptakeplant–water relationsProtiumsap flowstable isotopes
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 28 , Issue 3 , May 2012 , pp. 263 - 270
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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