Annual foraging of the leaf-cutting ant Atta colombica in a semideciduous rain forest in Panama

Wirth R, Beyschlag W, Ryel RJ, Holldobler B (1997)
JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY 13(05): 741-757.

Zeitschriftenaufsatz | Veröffentlicht | Englisch
 
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Autor*in
Wirth, R; Beyschlag, WolframUniBi; Ryel, RJ; Holldobler, B
Abstract / Bemerkung
In a 1-y study of vegetation harvested by the leaf-cutting ants, Atta Colombica Guerin, daily harvesting activity of two nests was observed for 24 h at c. I-wk intervals (colony I: June 1993-June 1994; colony II: February-June 1994) on Barro Colorado Island. The average daily quantity of green leaves harvested by colony I was higher during the wet season (11.4 m(2) d(-1)) than during the dry season (9.0 m(2) d(-1)), but was highly variable between survey days. Total annual herbivory of green leaves was estimated to be 3,855 m(2) foliage area for colony I and 1,707 m(2) for colony II. Total dry weight of biomass harvested was higher in the dry season because most material collected during the wet season consisted of green leaves, while during the dry season, more than 50% of the total collected biomass was non-green plant material (stipules of Ficus sp., fruits, seeds, and flower parts of a variety of other species) which represented c. one third (ill kg y(-1)) of the total annual intake (370 kg y(-1)) of plant material. Total daily biomass intake was negatively correlated with daytime rainfall. The peak of daily foraging was affected by timing and duration of rainfall events. Highest input rates normally occurred between 15:00 and 16:00 h (colony I). Dry weight and surface area of harvested leaf fragments differed between plant species, with thicker leaves generally being cut into smaller pieces. Significant linear correlations were found between total daily harvest of fragments and the respective harvesting rate at the maximum of daily activity. High correspondence was found between estimates using this relationship and the measured daily leaf harvest of four other Atta colonies and of two colonies reported in published literature. The use of this relationship as a research tool is discussed.
Stichworte
foraging patterns; Atta colombica; herbivory; tropical rain forest; leaf-cutting ants
Erscheinungsjahr
1997
Zeitschriftentitel
JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY
Band
13
Ausgabe
05
Seite(n)
741-757
ISSN
0266-4674
eISSN
1469-7831
Page URI
https://pub.uni-bielefeld.de/record/1627309

Zitieren

Wirth R, Beyschlag W, Ryel RJ, Holldobler B. Annual foraging of the leaf-cutting ant Atta colombica in a semideciduous rain forest in Panama. JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY. 1997;13(05):741-757.
Wirth, R., Beyschlag, W., Ryel, R. J., & Holldobler, B. (1997). Annual foraging of the leaf-cutting ant Atta colombica in a semideciduous rain forest in Panama. JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY, 13(05), 741-757. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266467400010907
Wirth, R, Beyschlag, Wolfram, Ryel, RJ, and Holldobler, B. 1997. “Annual foraging of the leaf-cutting ant Atta colombica in a semideciduous rain forest in Panama”. JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY 13 (05): 741-757.
Wirth, R., Beyschlag, W., Ryel, R. J., and Holldobler, B. (1997). Annual foraging of the leaf-cutting ant Atta colombica in a semideciduous rain forest in Panama. JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY 13, 741-757.
Wirth, R., et al., 1997. Annual foraging of the leaf-cutting ant Atta colombica in a semideciduous rain forest in Panama. JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY, 13(05), p 741-757.
R. Wirth, et al., “Annual foraging of the leaf-cutting ant Atta colombica in a semideciduous rain forest in Panama”, JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY, vol. 13, 1997, pp. 741-757.
Wirth, R., Beyschlag, W., Ryel, R.J., Holldobler, B.: Annual foraging of the leaf-cutting ant Atta colombica in a semideciduous rain forest in Panama. JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY. 13, 741-757 (1997).
Wirth, R, Beyschlag, Wolfram, Ryel, RJ, and Holldobler, B. “Annual foraging of the leaf-cutting ant Atta colombica in a semideciduous rain forest in Panama”. JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY 13.05 (1997): 741-757.
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