Neotropical ant gardens : I. Chemical constituents
J L Seidel1, W W Epstein, D W Davidson
1Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, 54901, Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Journal of Chemical Ecology
|November 23, 2013
Summary
Ants cultivate epiphytic plants in Amazonian gardens, using aromatic seed compounds like methyl 6-methylsalicylate (6-MMS) as chemical cues. These compounds may mimic ant brood, aiding seed recognition and plant symbiosis.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Chemical Ecology
- Myrmecology
Background:
- Parabiotic ant species (Camponotus femoratus and Crematogaster cf. limata parabiotica) cultivate diverse epiphytic plants in Amazonian ant gardens.
- Epiphyte establishment is confined to arboreal carton ant nests, with seeds collected and germinated within ant brood chambers.
- Nutritional rewards on seeds are insufficient to explain ant attraction, suggesting alternative signaling mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the chemical cues responsible for ant attraction to epiphytic plant seeds.
- To explore the role of specific aromatic compounds in mediating ant-plant symbiotic relationships.
- To test the hypothesis that seed compounds mimic ant brood and potentially possess fungistatic properties.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of volatile aromatic compounds present in and on the seeds of ant-garden epiphytes.
- Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify and quantify key compounds.
- Examination of mandibular gland secretions of Camponotus femoratus males for specific aromatic compounds.
Main Results:
- Five aromatic compounds were frequently found on ant-garden epiphyte seeds, acting as potential chemical recognition cues.
- Methyl 6-methylsalicylate (6-MMS) was identified as a widely distributed compound, also found in mandibular glands of male Camponotus femoratus.
- (-)-Citronellol and (-)-mellein were also identified in male ant extracts, with 6-MMS supporting the brood mimicry hypothesis.
Conclusions:
- Aromatic compounds on seeds, particularly 6-MMS, likely serve as chemical signals for ants to recognize and collect symbiotic plant propagules.
- The presence of 6-MMS in ant mandibular glands supports the hypothesis that seeds mimic ant brood, facilitating symbiotic interactions.
- Seed compounds may possess fungistatic properties, protecting ant nests and plants from microbial pathogens, and potentially represent convergent evolution.
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