Nectar contains water, sugars and amino acids to attract pollinators and defenders and is
protected from nectar robbers and microorganisms by secondary compounds and …

Plants secrete extrafloral nectar (EFN) as an induced defense against herbivores. EFN
contains not only carbohydrates and amino acids but also pathogenesis-related proteins …

Comprising a substantial part of living biomass on earth, ants are integral to the functioning
of terrestrial ecosystems. More than 12,000 species have been described to date, and it is …

All mutualistic plant–animal interactions are mediated by costs and benefits in relationships
where resources (from plants) are exchanged by services (from animals). The most common …

Background Plants in over one hundred families in habitats worldwide bear extrafloral
nectaries (EFNs). EFNs display a remarkable diversity of evolutionary origins, as well as …

Current evidence suggests that ant–plant relationships may influence species composition,
abundance, and interactions at the community scale. The main resource that plants offer to …

Ant–plant symbioses involve plants that provide hollow structures specialized for housing
ants and often food to ants. In return, the inhabiting ants protect plants against herbivores …

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-animal interactions occur in a community context of dynamic and complex ecological
interactive networks. The understanding of who interacts with whom is a basic information …

Aim Extrafloral nectar, a carbohydrate‐rich liquid, is the main plant‐based resource offered
in exchange for ant protection. The positive results of this protection provided by ants are …