Ants often interact aggressively for resources (eg nest sites and food) with members of their
own or another species. In these competitive interactions, dominant ant species exert a …

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 …

Abstract The Optimal Defense Theory (ODT) postulates that reproductive structures should
be more heavily defended because they contribute the most to a plant's fitness and have the …

Plants provide extrafloral nectar, which is a food resource taken by ants, especially
aggressive species that may act as plant guards. To our knowledge, no study has been …

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 …

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 …

Plants are involved in different interactions with animals that may have contrasting effects on
their reproductive output. However, as multitrophic interactions are resource-mediated and …

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 …

Plant diversity can increase productivity. One mechanism behind this biodiversity effect is
facilitation, which is when one species increases the performance of another species. Plants …

Mutualistic interactions between plants bearing extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) and ants are key
ecological processes in many ecosystems, particularly in the Neotropics. These interactions …