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SPATIAL PATTERN AND ECOLOGICAL PROCESS IN THE COFFEE AGROFORESTRY SYSTEM
Author(s) -
Perfecto Ivette,
Vandermeer John
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.1890/06-2121.1
Subject(s) - mutualism (biology) , ecology , predation , spatial ecology , ant colony , habitat , biology , biological pest control , key (lock) , predator , myrmecophyte , parasitoid , coccus (insect) , nectar , pollen , algorithm , computer science , ant colony optimization algorithms
The coffee agroforestry system provides an ideal platform for the study of spatial ecology. The uniform pattern of the coffee plants and shade trees allows for the study of pattern generation through intrinsic biological forces rather than extrinsic habitat patchiness. Detailed studies, focusing on a key mutualism between an ant ( Azteca instabilis ) and a scale insect ( Coccus viridis ), conducted in a 45‐ha plot in a coffee agroforestry system have provided insights into (1) the quantitative evaluation of spatial pattern of the scale insect Coccus viridis on coffee bushes, (2) the mechanisms for the generation of patterns through the combination of local satellite ant nest formation and regional control from natural enemies, and (3) the consequences of the spatial pattern for the stability of predator–prey (host–parasitoid) systems, for a key coccinelid beetle preying on the scale insects and a phorid fly parasitoid parasitizing the ant.