Evol Ecol Res 7: 407-420 (2005) Full PDF if your library subscribes.
Quantifying ant foraging preferences in the field using a slow-flow nectar pump
Matthew T. Rutter *
Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27707, USA
Address all correspondence to Matthew T. Rutter, Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
e-mail: rutter@wam.umd.eduABSTRACT
Question: What aspects of nectar production affect ant recruitment in natural conditions?
Organisms: The most common ant species were Formica pergandei, Monomorium minimum and Pheidole bicarinata.
Field site: Old field in Duke Forest, Durham, North Carolina.
Method: I developed a slow-flow pump that allows for experimental manipulation of nectar characteristics, including flow rate, within a biologically reasonable range. This pump can be used in field conditions. I assayed ant preferences for sugar concentration, nectar flow rate, number of nectaries per plant, and spatial location of the nectar sources.
Conclusions: Ant nectar preferences varied across species. Formica pergandei recruitment changed when sugar concentration, flow rate and the number of nectaries did. However, the direction of change depended on the position of the nectar sources. Monomorium minimum and P. bicarinata recruitment patterns changed only if nectar flow rate changed. Monomorium minimum also preferred certain locations. Pheidole bicarinata consistently preferred intermediate nectar flow rates.
Keywords: ant–plant interactions, diet preferences, foraging, nectar.
DOWNLOAD A FREE, FULL PDF COPY
IF you are connected using the IP of a subscribing institution (library, laboratory, etc.)
or through its VPN.
© 2005 Matthew T. Rutter. All EER articles are copyrighted by their authors. All authors endorse, permit and license Evolutionary Ecology Ltd. to grant its subscribing institutions/libraries the copying privileges specified below without additional consideration or payment to them or to Evolutionary Ecology, Ltd. These endorsements, in writing, are on file in the office of Evolutionary Ecology, Ltd. Consult authors for permission to use any portion of their work in derivative works, compilations or to distribute their work in any commercial manner.
Subscribing institutions/libraries may grant individuals the privilege of making a single copy of an EER article for non-commercial educational or non-commercial research purposes. Subscribing institutions/libraries may also use articles for non-commercial educational purposes by making any number of copies for course packs or course reserve collections. Subscribing institutions/libraries may also loan single copies of articles to non-commercial libraries for educational purposes.
All copies of abstracts and articles must preserve their copyright notice without modification.