The arboreal ant community visiting extrafloral nectaries in the Neotropical cerrado savanna

A study reveals that the prevalence of ants on Cerrado savanna foliage is driven by abundant, predictable liquid food sources such as extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) and insect honeydew, which significantly promote ant activity. The research demonstrates that while EFN-gathering ants benefit certain plant species by reducing herbivory and enhancing plant fitness, the presence of EFNs does not influence overall ant species richness or composition on a given tree. Contrary to expectations, plants with EFNs attract more ant individuals but do not exhibit lower herbivore numbers at the community level. The study also highlights the role of stem galleries and cavities created by beetles in providing nesting space for arboreal ants. By integrating findings from ant-plant-herbivore interactions, the research suggests new avenues to explore how community-level dynamics shape ant-plant associations in this unique Neotropical ecosystem.

Ribas, C., Oliveira, P., Sobrinho, T., Schoereder, J., & Madureira, M. (2010). The arboreal ant community visiting extrafloral nectaries in the Neotropical cerrado savanna. Terrestrial Arthropod Reviews, 3(1), 3–27. https://doi.org/10.1163/187498310x487785