Harnessing ant defence at fruits reduces bruchid seed predation in a symbiotic ant–plant mutualism

摘要: In horizontally transmitted mutualisms, mutualists disperse separately and reassemble in each generation with partners genetically unrelated to those the previous generation. Because of this, there should be no selection on either partner enhance other's reproductive output directly. symbiotic ant–plant myrmecophytic plants host defensive ant colonies, ants defend from herbivores. Plants separately, and, although defence can indirectly increase plant reproduction by reducing folivory, it is unclear whether also directly defending seeds. The neotropical tree Cordia alliodora hosts colonies Azteca pittieri ants. trees produce domatia where nest at stem nodes node between peduncle rachides infloresence. Unlike domatia, these senesce after fruits year. this study, I show that tree's resident colony moves into ephemeral they tend honeydew-producing scale insects patrol nearby developing fruits. presence significantly reduced pre-dispersal seed predation Amblycerus bruchid beetles, thereby increasing output.