10.5061/DRYAD.KQ484
Clark, Robert E.
Wesleyan University
Singer, Michael S.
Wesleyan University
Data from: Keystone mutualism strengthens top-down effects by recruiting
large-bodied ants
Dryad
dataset
2019
Ants
Camponotus pennsylvanicus
Caterpillars
Formica neogagates
Camponotus chromaoides
National Science Foundation
https://ror.org/021nxhr62
DEB-1404177
2019-01-02T00:00:00Z
2019-01-02T00:00:00Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-017-4047-5
88567 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Determining the impacts of mutualistic interactions and predator diversity
on food webs are two important goals in community ecology. In this study,
we examined how predator community variation mediates the strength of
top–down effects in the presence and absence of mutualistic interactions.
We examined the impacts of predatory ant species that simultaneously prey
on leaf-chewing herbivores (Lepidoptera) and engage in food-for-protection
mutualisms with sap-feeding herbivores (Hemiptera) in the lower canopy of
Connecticut forests. In this 2-year study, we examined three hypothetical
mechanisms by which mutualisms can alter the top–down effects of ants: (1)
sap feeders increase ant abundance, thus strengthening predatory effects;
(2) sap feeders increase the relative abundance of a species that has
stronger predatory effects; and (3) changes to predator diversity (species
richness) are caused by sap feeders mediating top–down effects of the ant
community. Experiments revealed that host plants occupied by sap feeders
favored large-bodied ant species in the genus Camponotus, but there were
no changes to community-wide ant abundance or ant species richness.
Fitting predictions of predation strength based on the functional trait of
body size, large-bodied Camponotus suppressed caterpillars and reduced
leaf herbivory. This work shows that the ant–hemipteran mutualism, which
has been characterized as a keystone interaction, can generate strong
top–down effects on leaf-chewing herbivores and herbivory via increasing
the relative abundance of species with functional traits relevant to
predation, such as body size. Therefore, the emergence of specific ants as
keystone predators in a community can be contingent upon their mutualism
with sap-feeding Hemiptera.
Red Maple 2013Data for experiment 1 described in the manuscript. Contains
population data for ants, caterpillars in response to treatment effects
from field season 2013 on the tree species Acer rubrum.RCombined 2014 and
2015Data for Experiment 2 as described in manuscript. Contains insect
population, community, and leaf damage on Carya. Data is collated across
both 2014 and 2015 field seasons.Catsize2014and2015Supplemental data with
identities of caterpillar species and reported body sizes from field
season 2014 and 2015 on Carya spp. Used for figure 5 in manuscript.