Which traits optimize plant benefits? Meta‐analysis on the effect of partner traits on the outcome of an ant–plant protective mutualism

LC Leal, A Nogueira, PEC Peixoto - Journal of Ecology, 2023 - Wiley Online Library
Theoretical models on mutualism dynamics predict that partner traits may influence the
outcome of mutualistic interactions. However, most empirical data on this issue is restricted …

Plant species specificity of ant–plant mutualistic interactions: Differential predation of termites by Camponotus crassus on five species of extrafloral nectaries plants

ES Calixto, D Lange, X Moreira, K Del‐Claro - Biotropica, 2021 - Wiley Online Library
There is increasing evidence that the outcomes of mutualistic interactions between ants and
plants bearing extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) are context‐dependent. In particular, the total …

Emerging Trends in Ant–Pollinator Conflict in Extrafloral Nectary-Bearing Plants

ES Calixto, IC de Oliveira Pimenta, D Lange… - Plants, 2024 - mdpi.com
The net outcomes of mutualisms are mediated by the trade-offs between the costs and
benefits provided by both partners. Our review proposes the existence of a trade-off in ant …

Plants with extrafloral nectaries share indirect defenses and shape the local arboreal ant community

RF Moura, K Del-Claro - Oecologia, 2023 - Springer
Associational resistance (AR) is a positive interaction in which a plant suffers less herbivore
damage due to its association with a protective plant. Here, we evaluated whether plants …

Revisiting ant-plant-pollinator interactions: plant fitness depends on mutualist identity

ES Calixto, DB Santos, D Lange… - Biological Journal of …, 2024 - academic.oup.com
Two species may share a mutualistic interaction if the benefits gained by the interaction
outweigh the costs incurred. In this study, we tested experimentally how the identity of ants …

Plant species with larger extrafloral nectaries produce better quality nectar when needed and interact with the best ant partners

CLS Alencar, A Nogueira, RE Vicente… - Journal of …, 2023 - academic.oup.com
Few studies have explored the phenotypic plasticity of nectar production on plant
attractiveness to ants. Here, we investigate the role of extrafloral nectary (EFN) size on the …

Extrafloral Nectary-Bearing Plants Recover Ant Association Benefits Faster and More Effectively after Frost-Fire Events Than Frost

GF Porto, JH Pezzonia, K Del-Claro - Plants, 2023 - mdpi.com
The Cerrado confronts threats such as fire and frost due to natural or human-induced factors.
These disturbances trigger attribute changes that impact biodiversity. Given escalating …

Mutualistic interactions between plants with extrafloral nectaries and ants: ecological impacts, ant sharing among neighboring plants, and the effects of environmental …

R do Rosario Nogueira - Community Ecology, 2025 - Springer
Mutualistic interactions between plants bearing extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) and ants are key
ecological processes in many ecosystems, particularly in the Neotropics. These interactions …

Ineffectiveness of ants in protecting two sympatric myrmecophilous plants against endophytic beetles

I Mendes‐Silva, D Queiroga, ES Calixto… - Austral …, 2024 - Wiley Online Library
Extrafloral nectarized plants attract ants, which may protect them against herbivory and
increase plant fruit set production. In some cases, however, ants are ineffective against …

Individual and interactive effects of chronic anthropogenic disturbance and rainfall on taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic composition and diversity of extrafloral …

X Arnan, CHF Silva, DQA Reis, FMP Oliveira… - Oecologia, 2022 - Springer
Chronic anthropogenic disturbance (CAD) and climate change represent two of the major
threats to biodiversity globally, but their combined effects are not well understood. Here we …