Term
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Definition
a long-lasting, physically close, and dependent relationship between two or more species. could be mutualistic (all partners benefit) or commensalistic (one benefits, other is unharmed
note: plant pollination is not an ex of symbiosis (even though they are dependent n each other) bcs they do not live in close proximity |
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Term
| is a plant "calling for help" an example of symbiosis? why or why not |
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Definition
NOT symbiosis, because it is not long-lasting nor dependent nor physically close.
ex: plant - corn, herbivore - spodoptera exigua, parasitoid - cotesia
demonstrates a highly specific mechanism for plants to attract parasitoids. the signaling system (odors) should benefit: the plant (through increased defense provided by cotesia) and the parasitoid (through increased searching efficiency). the system is mutually beneficial.
but, just to reiterate, it isn't symbiosis bcs it's not long lasting, not dependent, and not physically close. |
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Term
| what can plants do to attract predators to protect them from herbivores |
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Definition
provide a home
provide food |
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Term
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Definition
= "little houses"
-specialized plant structures or chambers that house mutualistic arthropods
-not induced by the arthropod; plant has them in the absence of the arthropod
-ex: hollow stems, swollen petioles, hollow thorns; tiny pits, hairy areas along leaf midribs. |
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Term
| what are beltian bodies? what is an extrafloral nectary? |
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Definition
food that acacias provide for their ants
used to attract the ants/benefit the ants |
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Term
| know the benefits for both ants and plants in the ant-acacia mutualism. |
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Definition
ants: pseudomyrmex, plants: acacia. tropics and subtropics.
ant benefits:
-shelter (domatia)
-food (1. directly from food bodies eg beltian bodies, 2. extrafloral nectaries, 3. honeydew from scale insects [at some plant expense])
plant benefits:
-protection from herbivores: (1. aggressive defense against grazing animals, 2. remove insect herbivores)
-protection from plant competitors: (prune or remove epiphytes and vines)
-ants may supply nutrients to plant (mineral nutrients and nitrogen from ant colony waste via absorption through inner surfaces of domatia)
these ants are totally dependent on host plants for food and shelter. Without these ants, these host plants decline. |
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Term
| what are the benefits to each species in the 3-way mutualism examples? |
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Definition
the three-way mutualism involves the acacia, the ant, and scale insects (coccids).
scale insect benefits:
-protection from natural enemies
-shelter
-food (plant sap)
another remarkable 3-way mutualism example is the acacia, lycaenid butterflies, and ants. the caterpillars have nectar organs from which the ants drink, and the acacia tolerates the feeding caterpillars. the ants appear to provide some protection for both plant and caterpillar.
acacia: |
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Term
| what is the symbiosis for leaf-cutter ants? who are the players and how do each benefit? |
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Definition
leaf-cutter ants and fungus.
there is a bacteria that grows on the worker that produces an antibiotic that eliminates fungus pest |
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Term
| what are minims? what is a phorid fly? |
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Definition
minim = minor worker. provides defense
40-mill-year-old pest management; defense for ant/fungi symbiosis |
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Term
| how to minims and phorid flies interact? |
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Definition
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Term
| why do ants also collect a specific bacterium? |
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Definition
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Term
| besides humans, only 2 other animals (both are insects) practice agriculture - which are they? |
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Definition
| leaf-cutter ants and african termites |
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Term
3-way mutualism:
benefits to caterpillars |
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Definition
adults selectively lay eggs in trees that have ants
ants defend caterpillars from parasitoids and predators
butterfly pupae are protected in ant nest |
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Term
| 3-way mutualism: benefits to ants |
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Definition
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Term
| 3-way mutualism: benefits to plant |
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Definition
| ants protect from other herbivores, epiphytes |
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