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AN UNUSUAL ANIMAL‐PLANT INTERACTION: FEEDING OF SCHOMBURGKIA TIBICINIS (ORCHIDACEAE) BY ANTS
Author(s) -
RicoGray Victor,
Barber John T.,
Thien Leonard B.,
Ellgaard Erik G.,
Toney Jeffrey J.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1989.tb11352.x
Subject(s) - orchidaceae , biology , botany
The hollow pseudobulbs of Schomburgkia tibicinis (Orchidaceae; Central America) serve as domatia for many species of ants. The ants pack many of the pseudobulbs with debris including dead insects, plant material, and sand. Ants were fed 14 C‐labelled D‐glucose in honey, killed, and placed in the pseudobulbs for up to eight weeks. Samples of plant tissue were harvested and tested for radioactivity after 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 weeks. The labelled material had moved into various parts of the plant and demonstrated direct nutrient uptake.