Symbiotic acacia ants drive nesting behavior by birds in an African savanna

Ema Lujan; Ryen Nielsen; Zoe Short; Samuel Wicks; Wilson Nderitu Watetu; Leo M. Khasoha; Todd M. Palmer; Jacob R. Goheen; Jesse M. Alston

doi:10.1111/btp.13276

Symbiotic acacia ants drive nesting behavior by birds in an African savanna

Ema Lujan
, Ryen Nielsen
, Zoe Short
, Samuel Wicks
, Wilson Nderitu Watetu
, Leo M. Khasoha
, Todd M. Palmer
, Jacob R. Goheen
, Jesse M. Alston

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mutualisms between plants and ants are common features of tropical ecosystems around the globe and can have cascading effects on interactions with the ecological communities in which they occur. In an African savanna, we assessed whether acacia ants influence nest site selection by tree-nesting birds. Birds selected nest sites in trees inhabited by ant species that vigorously defend against browsing mammals. Future research could address the extent to which hatching and fledging rates depend on the species of ant symbiont, and why ants tolerate nesting birds but no other tree associates (especially insects). Abstract in Swahili is available with online material.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1101-1105
Number of pages	5
Journal	Biotropica
Volume	55
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.13276
State	Published - Nov 2023
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Crematogaster spp.
Kenya
Tetraponera penzigi
gray-capped social weaver (Pseudonigrita arnaudi)
gray-headed sparrow (Passer griseus)
plant-ant mutualisms
superb starling (Lamprotornis superbus)
symbioses

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Access to Document

10.1111/btp.13276

Cite this

@article{a66053794b054bc386ddb5b605b056c9,

title = "Symbiotic acacia ants drive nesting behavior by birds in an African savanna",

abstract = "Mutualisms between plants and ants are common features of tropical ecosystems around the globe and can have cascading effects on interactions with the ecological communities in which they occur. In an African savanna, we assessed whether acacia ants influence nest site selection by tree-nesting birds. Birds selected nest sites in trees inhabited by ant species that vigorously defend against browsing mammals. Future research could address the extent to which hatching and fledging rates depend on the species of ant symbiont, and why ants tolerate nesting birds but no other tree associates (especially insects). Abstract in Swahili is available with online material.",

keywords = "Crematogaster spp., Kenya, Tetraponera penzigi, gray-capped social weaver (Pseudonigrita arnaudi), gray-headed sparrow (Passer griseus), plant-ant mutualisms, superb starling (Lamprotornis superbus), symbioses",

author = "Ema Lujan and Ryen Nielsen and Zoe Short and Samuel Wicks and Watetu, \{Wilson Nderitu\} and Khasoha, \{Leo M.\} and Palmer, \{Todd M.\} and Goheen, \{Jacob R.\} and Alston, \{Jesse M.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation.",

year = "2023",

month = nov,

doi = "10.1111/btp.13276",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "55",

pages = "1101--1105",

journal = "Biotropica",

issn = "0006-3606",

publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",

number = "6",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Symbiotic acacia ants drive nesting behavior by birds in an African savanna

AU - Lujan, Ema

AU - Nielsen, Ryen

AU - Short, Zoe

AU - Wicks, Samuel

AU - Watetu, Wilson Nderitu

AU - Khasoha, Leo M.

AU - Palmer, Todd M.

AU - Goheen, Jacob R.

AU - Alston, Jesse M.

PY - 2023/11

Y1 - 2023/11

N2 - Mutualisms between plants and ants are common features of tropical ecosystems around the globe and can have cascading effects on interactions with the ecological communities in which they occur. In an African savanna, we assessed whether acacia ants influence nest site selection by tree-nesting birds. Birds selected nest sites in trees inhabited by ant species that vigorously defend against browsing mammals. Future research could address the extent to which hatching and fledging rates depend on the species of ant symbiont, and why ants tolerate nesting birds but no other tree associates (especially insects). Abstract in Swahili is available with online material.

AB - Mutualisms between plants and ants are common features of tropical ecosystems around the globe and can have cascading effects on interactions with the ecological communities in which they occur. In an African savanna, we assessed whether acacia ants influence nest site selection by tree-nesting birds. Birds selected nest sites in trees inhabited by ant species that vigorously defend against browsing mammals. Future research could address the extent to which hatching and fledging rates depend on the species of ant symbiont, and why ants tolerate nesting birds but no other tree associates (especially insects). Abstract in Swahili is available with online material.

KW - Crematogaster spp.

KW - Kenya

KW - Tetraponera penzigi

KW - gray-capped social weaver (Pseudonigrita arnaudi)

KW - gray-headed sparrow (Passer griseus)

KW - plant-ant mutualisms

KW - superb starling (Lamprotornis superbus)

KW - symbioses

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85174496040

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85174496040#tab=citedBy

U2 - 10.1111/btp.13276

DO - 10.1111/btp.13276

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85174496040

SN - 0006-3606

VL - 55

SP - 1101

EP - 1105

JO - Biotropica

JF - Biotropica

IS - 6

ER -

Symbiotic acacia ants drive nesting behavior by birds in an African savanna

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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Cite this