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A reassessment of the relations in Malaysia between ants (Crematogaster) on trees (Leptospermum and Dacrydium) and epiphytes of the genus dischidia (Asclepiadaceae) including 'ant-plants'

Three species of epiphytic Dischidia have been investigated in terms of their relationship to ants on trees. Two species, D. parvifolia and D. astephana, are associated with ants and trees in montane areas. A clear association has been found between ants of the genus Crematogaster and the tree Lepto...

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Main Authors: Weir, J. S., Kiew, Ruth
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing 1986
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/38729/1/a74%20-%20reassessment%20of%20the%20relations%20in%20mia.pdf
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/38729/
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spelling my.upm.eprints.387292015-06-09T05:42:16Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/38729/ A reassessment of the relations in Malaysia between ants (Crematogaster) on trees (Leptospermum and Dacrydium) and epiphytes of the genus dischidia (Asclepiadaceae) including 'ant-plants' Weir, J. S. Kiew, Ruth Three species of epiphytic Dischidia have been investigated in terms of their relationship to ants on trees. Two species, D. parvifolia and D. astephana, are associated with ants and trees in montane areas. A clear association has been found between ants of the genus Crematogaster and the tree Leptospermum flavesens. This relationship is complex and probably both organisms benefit from the association. The ants live in tunnels in the wood of the major branches and the trunk, and the entire tree is occupied by one ant colony. Trees occupied by ants are maintained by the ants substantially clear of epiphytes other than the two species of Dischidia. The potential benefits to the tree and to the ants of this association are noted. The roots of D. astephana and D. parvifolia penetrate into the cavities of these ant nests and presumably gain nutrients from waste in the ant nests. Both Dischidia species are effectively scavenging upon the waste material from the ant-tree association. The leathery dome-shaped leaves of D. astephana are not vital to the development of the scavenging habit as D. parvifolia has lens-shaped leaves, but may offer some advantage to D. astephana by the uptake of nutrients from waste deposited by the ants under the dome-shaped leaves by interception of stem flow and by uptake of gaseous waste. Ants do not nest under these leaves. Seeds of these species of Dischidia are taken by ants into the central woody area of the ant nest where they germinate. Both Leptospermum and Dischidia can be visualized as showing adaptations to a nutient-deficient tropical montane environment. These adaptations are discussed as is the need for reassessment in this genus of the term 'ant-plant', and the need for wider recognition of the 'ant-tree' relationship between Crematogaster and Leptospermum. Wiley-Blackwell Publishing 1986-02 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/38729/1/a74%20-%20reassessment%20of%20the%20relations%20in%20mia.pdf Weir, J. S. and Kiew, Ruth (1986) A reassessment of the relations in Malaysia between ants (Crematogaster) on trees (Leptospermum and Dacrydium) and epiphytes of the genus dischidia (Asclepiadaceae) including 'ant-plants'. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 27 (2). pp. 113-132. ISSN 0024-4066; ESSN: 1095-8312 10.1111/j.1095-8312.1986.tb01729.x
institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
building UPM Library
collection Institutional Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
content_provider Universiti Putra Malaysia
content_source UPM Institutional Repository
url_provider http://psasir.upm.edu.my/
language English
description Three species of epiphytic Dischidia have been investigated in terms of their relationship to ants on trees. Two species, D. parvifolia and D. astephana, are associated with ants and trees in montane areas. A clear association has been found between ants of the genus Crematogaster and the tree Leptospermum flavesens. This relationship is complex and probably both organisms benefit from the association. The ants live in tunnels in the wood of the major branches and the trunk, and the entire tree is occupied by one ant colony. Trees occupied by ants are maintained by the ants substantially clear of epiphytes other than the two species of Dischidia. The potential benefits to the tree and to the ants of this association are noted. The roots of D. astephana and D. parvifolia penetrate into the cavities of these ant nests and presumably gain nutrients from waste in the ant nests. Both Dischidia species are effectively scavenging upon the waste material from the ant-tree association. The leathery dome-shaped leaves of D. astephana are not vital to the development of the scavenging habit as D. parvifolia has lens-shaped leaves, but may offer some advantage to D. astephana by the uptake of nutrients from waste deposited by the ants under the dome-shaped leaves by interception of stem flow and by uptake of gaseous waste. Ants do not nest under these leaves. Seeds of these species of Dischidia are taken by ants into the central woody area of the ant nest where they germinate. Both Leptospermum and Dischidia can be visualized as showing adaptations to a nutient-deficient tropical montane environment. These adaptations are discussed as is the need for reassessment in this genus of the term 'ant-plant', and the need for wider recognition of the 'ant-tree' relationship between Crematogaster and Leptospermum.
format Article
author Weir, J. S.
Kiew, Ruth
spellingShingle Weir, J. S.
Kiew, Ruth
A reassessment of the relations in Malaysia between ants (Crematogaster) on trees (Leptospermum and Dacrydium) and epiphytes of the genus dischidia (Asclepiadaceae) including 'ant-plants'
author_facet Weir, J. S.
Kiew, Ruth
author_sort Weir, J. S.
title A reassessment of the relations in Malaysia between ants (Crematogaster) on trees (Leptospermum and Dacrydium) and epiphytes of the genus dischidia (Asclepiadaceae) including 'ant-plants'
title_short A reassessment of the relations in Malaysia between ants (Crematogaster) on trees (Leptospermum and Dacrydium) and epiphytes of the genus dischidia (Asclepiadaceae) including 'ant-plants'
title_full A reassessment of the relations in Malaysia between ants (Crematogaster) on trees (Leptospermum and Dacrydium) and epiphytes of the genus dischidia (Asclepiadaceae) including 'ant-plants'
title_fullStr A reassessment of the relations in Malaysia between ants (Crematogaster) on trees (Leptospermum and Dacrydium) and epiphytes of the genus dischidia (Asclepiadaceae) including 'ant-plants'
title_full_unstemmed A reassessment of the relations in Malaysia between ants (Crematogaster) on trees (Leptospermum and Dacrydium) and epiphytes of the genus dischidia (Asclepiadaceae) including 'ant-plants'
title_sort reassessment of the relations in malaysia between ants (crematogaster) on trees (leptospermum and dacrydium) and epiphytes of the genus dischidia (asclepiadaceae) including 'ant-plants'
publisher Wiley-Blackwell Publishing
publishDate 1986
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/38729/1/a74%20-%20reassessment%20of%20the%20relations%20in%20mia.pdf
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/38729/
_version_ 1643832220736028672
score 13.211869

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