Fisher B L, da Silveira Lobo Sternberg L, Price D
Department of Biology, University of Utah, 84112, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
Oecologia. 1990 Jun;83(2):263-6. doi: 10.1007/BF00317763.
The relation between ant-plant specificity and the use of host plants as a resource was investigated in the facultative, myrmecophytic orchid, Caularthron bilamellatum (Rchg.f.) Schult. Using stable isotopes, we determined the portion of the ants' diets derived from host plants. We documented that six ant species inhabiting the orchid: (1) derived nutritional benefit from host orchids, and (2) had species-specific levels of extrafloral nectar use. Proportionate contribution of extrafloral nectar to ant diets ranged from 11 to 48%. These results demonstrate extreme interspecific differences in the nutritional benefits received by ants from host orchids. Interspecific differences in nutritional benefits from orchid nectar may be affected by colony size, nutritional needs, behavioral ecology of the ants, and the abundance of alternate food sources.
在兼性蚁栖兰花双褶距兰（Caularthron bilamellatum (Rchg.f.) Schult.）中，研究了蚂蚁与植物的特异性关系以及寄主植物作为一种资源的利用情况。我们使用稳定同位素确定了蚂蚁饮食中源自寄主植物的部分。我们记录到有六种蚂蚁栖息在这种兰花上：（1）从寄主兰花中获得营养益处，（2）具有物种特异性的花外蜜露利用水平。花外蜜露对蚂蚁饮食的贡献比例在11%至48%之间。这些结果表明，蚂蚁从寄主兰花中获得的营养益处存在极大的种间差异。兰花花蜜带来的营养益处的种间差异可能受蚁群大小、营养需求、蚂蚁的行为生态学以及替代食物来源的丰富程度影响。
