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Mammalian Insectivores Exert Top‐Down Effects on Azteca Ants
Author(s) -
Hirsch Ben T.,
Martinez Daniel,
Kurten Erin L.,
Brown Danielle D.,
Carson Walter P.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
biotropica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.813
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1744-7429
pISSN - 0006-3606
DOI - 10.1111/btp.12128
Subject(s) - insectivore , predation , biology , ecology , predator , abundance (ecology) , nest (protein structural motif) , trophic level , mammal , trophic cascade , zoology , biochemistry
Insectivorous mammals are hypothesized to reduce the abundance of their insect prey. Using a 14‐yr mammal exclusion experiment, we demonstrate for the first time that a widespread and abundant Neotropical mammalian insectivore (Tamandua: Tamandua mexicana ) reduced Azteca ant abundance. Azteca ant nests inside mammal exclosures were significantly larger than nests in control plots, where tamanduas were more abundant. These top‐down effects were caused not only by direct consumption, but also through non‐trophic direct effects, specifically nest damage. In contrast, tamanduas appeared to exert no significant top‐down effect on termite prey, which have strong chemical defenses. Our results are consistent with theory that strong defenses against predation can mitigate the top‐down effects of predators on some prey species. We argue that predicting the degree of top‐down effects caused by predators requires both a quantitative knowledge of prey choice and an understanding of the anti‐predator defenses of prey.