Breakdown of an ant-plant mutualism follows the loss of large herbivores from an African Savanna

Todd M. Palmer; Maureen L. Stanton; Truman P. Young; Jacob R. Goheen; Robert M. Pringle; Richard Karban

doi:10.1126/science.1151579

Breakdown of an ant-plant mutualism follows the loss of large herbivores from an African Savanna

Todd M. Palmer, Maureen L. Stanton, Truman P. Young, Jacob R. Goheen, Robert M. Pringle, Richard Karban

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238 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mutualisms are key components of biodiversity and ecosystem function, yet the forces maintaining them are poorly understood. We investigated the effects of removing large mammals on an ant-Acacia mutualism in an African savanna. Ten years of large-herbivore exclusion reduced the nectar and housing provided by plants to ants, increasing antagonistic behavior by a mutualistic ant associate and shifting competitive dominance within the plant-ant community from this nectar-dependent mutualist to an antagonistic species that does not depend on plant rewards. Trees occupied by this antagonist suffered increased attack by stem-boring beetles, grew more slowly, and experienced doubled mortality relative to trees occupied by the mutualistic ant. These results show that large mammals maintain cooperation within a widespread symbiosis and suggest complex cascading effects of megafaunal extinction.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	192-195
Number of pages	4
Journal	Science
Volume	319
Issue number	5860
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1151579
State	Published - Jan 11 2008
Externally published	Yes

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abstract = "Mutualisms are key components of biodiversity and ecosystem function, yet the forces maintaining them are poorly understood. We investigated the effects of removing large mammals on an ant-Acacia mutualism in an African savanna. Ten years of large-herbivore exclusion reduced the nectar and housing provided by plants to ants, increasing antagonistic behavior by a mutualistic ant associate and shifting competitive dominance within the plant-ant community from this nectar-dependent mutualist to an antagonistic species that does not depend on plant rewards. Trees occupied by this antagonist suffered increased attack by stem-boring beetles, grew more slowly, and experienced doubled mortality relative to trees occupied by the mutualistic ant. These results show that large mammals maintain cooperation within a widespread symbiosis and suggest complex cascading effects of megafaunal extinction.",

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AU - Palmer, Todd M.

AU - Stanton, Maureen L.

AU - Young, Truman P.

AU - Goheen, Jacob R.

AU - Pringle, Robert M.

AU - Karban, Richard

PY - 2008/1/11

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AB - Mutualisms are key components of biodiversity and ecosystem function, yet the forces maintaining them are poorly understood. We investigated the effects of removing large mammals on an ant-Acacia mutualism in an African savanna. Ten years of large-herbivore exclusion reduced the nectar and housing provided by plants to ants, increasing antagonistic behavior by a mutualistic ant associate and shifting competitive dominance within the plant-ant community from this nectar-dependent mutualist to an antagonistic species that does not depend on plant rewards. Trees occupied by this antagonist suffered increased attack by stem-boring beetles, grew more slowly, and experienced doubled mortality relative to trees occupied by the mutualistic ant. These results show that large mammals maintain cooperation within a widespread symbiosis and suggest complex cascading effects of megafaunal extinction.

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Breakdown of an ant-plant mutualism follows the loss of large herbivores from an African Savanna

Abstract

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