Excessive nutrient input induces an ecological cost for aphids by modifying their attractiveness towards mutualist ants

Autores
Lescano, M.N; Quintero, C.; Farji-Brener, A.; Balseiro, E.
Año de publicación
2022
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
conjunto de datos
Estado
versión aceptada
Descripción
1. Enhanced soil nutrient availability often favors herbivore performance by bringing the carbon:nutrient ratio of plants closer to herbivore requirements. However, a surplus of nutrients can promote a too low carbon:nutrient ratio in plants, making them of poor quality for herbivores. In addition, increased soil nutrients can trigger cascading effects altering higher trophic levels, resulting in indirect costs for herbivores. 2. Through experiments under three increasing fertilization levels (unfertilized, NPK-rich, and 2NPK-rich soils), we studied how the enhancement of soil nutrient availability, by modifying the C:N ratio of thistles, affects the performance and homeostatic response of the aphids, and the consequent ant attraction. 3. Fertilized soils increased the biomass and reduced the C:N ratio of thistles, also increasing aphid abundance. The stoichiometric homeostasis of aphids was modulated through changes in honeydew production and composition; fertilization treatments reduced by more than half the quantity of honeydew secreted and lead to 2.5 to 6.4 times higher honeydew N concentration compared with the unfertilized treatment. In addition, in the highest fertilization treatment, the aphids increased the content of uric acid (a waste toxic compound involved in amino acid deamination) excreted in their honeydew. Aphid-infested thistles had the highest number of aphid-tending ants when they grew on intermediate rich-substrates. Ants selected honeydew with a lower C:N ratio (compared to unfertilized plants), but fewer workers patrolled plants with the highest fertilization treatment likely due to increased uric acid in the honeydew. 4. We showed that enhanced soil nutrients brought plant C:N ratio closer to aphid requirements, enhancing their performance and promoting ant attendance. But a disproportionate increase in fertilization did not further improve aphid performance while it decreases the attraction of protective mutualists, which would make aphid populations more vulnerable to attack by natural enemies, inducing an ecological cost. 5. This study highlights the complex role of bottom-up cascading effects triggered by increases in soil nutrient availability and the importance of evaluating not only the physiological and population cost and benefits of it but also the ecological ones; especially when it alters mutualistic interactions.
Fil: Lescano, M. N. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Hormigas; Argentina.
Fil: Quintero, C. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Laboratorio Ecotono; Argentina.
Fil: Farji-Brener, A. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Hormigas; Argentina.
Fil: Balseiro, E. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Laboratorio de Limnología; Argentina.
Fuente
Funtional Ecology
Materia
Ants
Aphids
Bottom-up cascades
Ecological stoichiometry
Fertilization; knife-edge hypothesis
Trophic interactions
Ciencias de la Tierra y Medio Ambiente
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso abierto
Condiciones de uso
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
Repositorio
Repositorio Digital Institucional (UNCo)
Institución
Universidad Nacional del Comahue
OAI Identificador
oai:rdi.uncoma.edu.ar:uncomaid/16831

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network_acronym_str RDIUNCO
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network_name_str Repositorio Digital Institucional (UNCo)
spelling Excessive nutrient input induces an ecological cost for aphids by modifying their attractiveness towards mutualist antsLescano, M.NQuintero, C.Farji-Brener, A.Balseiro, E.AntsAphidsBottom-up cascadesEcological stoichiometryFertilization; knife-edge hypothesisTrophic interactionshttps://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.6Ciencias de la Tierra y Medio Ambiente1. Enhanced soil nutrient availability often favors herbivore performance by bringing the carbon:nutrient ratio of plants closer to herbivore requirements. However, a surplus of nutrients can promote a too low carbon:nutrient ratio in plants, making them of poor quality for herbivores. In addition, increased soil nutrients can trigger cascading effects altering higher trophic levels, resulting in indirect costs for herbivores. 2. Through experiments under three increasing fertilization levels (unfertilized, NPK-rich, and 2NPK-rich soils), we studied how the enhancement of soil nutrient availability, by modifying the C:N ratio of thistles, affects the performance and homeostatic response of the aphids, and the consequent ant attraction. 3. Fertilized soils increased the biomass and reduced the C:N ratio of thistles, also increasing aphid abundance. The stoichiometric homeostasis of aphids was modulated through changes in honeydew production and composition; fertilization treatments reduced by more than half the quantity of honeydew secreted and lead to 2.5 to 6.4 times higher honeydew N concentration compared with the unfertilized treatment. In addition, in the highest fertilization treatment, the aphids increased the content of uric acid (a waste toxic compound involved in amino acid deamination) excreted in their honeydew. Aphid-infested thistles had the highest number of aphid-tending ants when they grew on intermediate rich-substrates. Ants selected honeydew with a lower C:N ratio (compared to unfertilized plants), but fewer workers patrolled plants with the highest fertilization treatment likely due to increased uric acid in the honeydew. 4. We showed that enhanced soil nutrients brought plant C:N ratio closer to aphid requirements, enhancing their performance and promoting ant attendance. But a disproportionate increase in fertilization did not further improve aphid performance while it decreases the attraction of protective mutualists, which would make aphid populations more vulnerable to attack by natural enemies, inducing an ecological cost. 5. This study highlights the complex role of bottom-up cascading effects triggered by increases in soil nutrient availability and the importance of evaluating not only the physiological and population cost and benefits of it but also the ecological ones; especially when it alters mutualistic interactions.Fil: Lescano, M. N. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Hormigas; Argentina.Fil: Quintero, C. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Laboratorio Ecotono; Argentina.Fil: Farji-Brener, A. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Hormigas; Argentina.Fil: Balseiro, E. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Laboratorio de Limnología; Argentina.British Ecological Society2022info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_ddb1info:ar-repo/semantics/conjuntoDeDatosinfo:eu-repo/semantics/dataSetapplication/ms-excelapplication/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheethttp://rdi.uncoma.edu.ar/handle/uncomaid/16831Funtional Ecologyreponame:Repositorio Digital Institucional (UNCo)instname:Universidad Nacional del ComahueengPICT 2015-0578 to MNL and PICT 2017-1940 to EB.info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/2025-09-29T14:28:44Zoai:rdi.uncoma.edu.ar:uncomaid/16831instacron:UNCoInstitucionalhttp://rdi.uncoma.edu.ar/Universidad públicaNo correspondehttp://rdi.uncoma.edu.ar/oaimirtha.mateo@biblioteca.uncoma.edu.ar; adriana.acuna@biblioteca.uncoma.edu.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:71082025-09-29 14:28:44.954Repositorio Digital Institucional (UNCo) - Universidad Nacional del Comahuefalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Excessive nutrient input induces an ecological cost for aphids by modifying their attractiveness towards mutualist ants
title Excessive nutrient input induces an ecological cost for aphids by modifying their attractiveness towards mutualist ants
spellingShingle Excessive nutrient input induces an ecological cost for aphids by modifying their attractiveness towards mutualist ants
Lescano, M.N
Ants
Aphids
Bottom-up cascades
Ecological stoichiometry
Fertilization; knife-edge hypothesis
Trophic interactions
Ciencias de la Tierra y Medio Ambiente
title_short Excessive nutrient input induces an ecological cost for aphids by modifying their attractiveness towards mutualist ants
title_full Excessive nutrient input induces an ecological cost for aphids by modifying their attractiveness towards mutualist ants
title_fullStr Excessive nutrient input induces an ecological cost for aphids by modifying their attractiveness towards mutualist ants
title_full_unstemmed Excessive nutrient input induces an ecological cost for aphids by modifying their attractiveness towards mutualist ants
title_sort Excessive nutrient input induces an ecological cost for aphids by modifying their attractiveness towards mutualist ants
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Lescano, M.N
Quintero, C.
Farji-Brener, A.
Balseiro, E.
author Lescano, M.N
author_facet Lescano, M.N
Quintero, C.
Farji-Brener, A.
Balseiro, E.
author_role author
author2 Quintero, C.
Farji-Brener, A.
Balseiro, E.
author2_role author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Ants
Aphids
Bottom-up cascades
Ecological stoichiometry
Fertilization; knife-edge hypothesis
Trophic interactions
Ciencias de la Tierra y Medio Ambiente
topic Ants
Aphids
Bottom-up cascades
Ecological stoichiometry
Fertilization; knife-edge hypothesis
Trophic interactions
Ciencias de la Tierra y Medio Ambiente
purl_subject.fl_str_mv https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.6
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv 1. Enhanced soil nutrient availability often favors herbivore performance by bringing the carbon:nutrient ratio of plants closer to herbivore requirements. However, a surplus of nutrients can promote a too low carbon:nutrient ratio in plants, making them of poor quality for herbivores. In addition, increased soil nutrients can trigger cascading effects altering higher trophic levels, resulting in indirect costs for herbivores. 2. Through experiments under three increasing fertilization levels (unfertilized, NPK-rich, and 2NPK-rich soils), we studied how the enhancement of soil nutrient availability, by modifying the C:N ratio of thistles, affects the performance and homeostatic response of the aphids, and the consequent ant attraction. 3. Fertilized soils increased the biomass and reduced the C:N ratio of thistles, also increasing aphid abundance. The stoichiometric homeostasis of aphids was modulated through changes in honeydew production and composition; fertilization treatments reduced by more than half the quantity of honeydew secreted and lead to 2.5 to 6.4 times higher honeydew N concentration compared with the unfertilized treatment. In addition, in the highest fertilization treatment, the aphids increased the content of uric acid (a waste toxic compound involved in amino acid deamination) excreted in their honeydew. Aphid-infested thistles had the highest number of aphid-tending ants when they grew on intermediate rich-substrates. Ants selected honeydew with a lower C:N ratio (compared to unfertilized plants), but fewer workers patrolled plants with the highest fertilization treatment likely due to increased uric acid in the honeydew. 4. We showed that enhanced soil nutrients brought plant C:N ratio closer to aphid requirements, enhancing their performance and promoting ant attendance. But a disproportionate increase in fertilization did not further improve aphid performance while it decreases the attraction of protective mutualists, which would make aphid populations more vulnerable to attack by natural enemies, inducing an ecological cost. 5. This study highlights the complex role of bottom-up cascading effects triggered by increases in soil nutrient availability and the importance of evaluating not only the physiological and population cost and benefits of it but also the ecological ones; especially when it alters mutualistic interactions.
Fil: Lescano, M. N. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Hormigas; Argentina.
Fil: Quintero, C. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Laboratorio Ecotono; Argentina.
Fil: Farji-Brener, A. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Hormigas; Argentina.
Fil: Balseiro, E. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Laboratorio de Limnología; Argentina.
description 1. Enhanced soil nutrient availability often favors herbivore performance by bringing the carbon:nutrient ratio of plants closer to herbivore requirements. However, a surplus of nutrients can promote a too low carbon:nutrient ratio in plants, making them of poor quality for herbivores. In addition, increased soil nutrients can trigger cascading effects altering higher trophic levels, resulting in indirect costs for herbivores. 2. Through experiments under three increasing fertilization levels (unfertilized, NPK-rich, and 2NPK-rich soils), we studied how the enhancement of soil nutrient availability, by modifying the C:N ratio of thistles, affects the performance and homeostatic response of the aphids, and the consequent ant attraction. 3. Fertilized soils increased the biomass and reduced the C:N ratio of thistles, also increasing aphid abundance. The stoichiometric homeostasis of aphids was modulated through changes in honeydew production and composition; fertilization treatments reduced by more than half the quantity of honeydew secreted and lead to 2.5 to 6.4 times higher honeydew N concentration compared with the unfertilized treatment. In addition, in the highest fertilization treatment, the aphids increased the content of uric acid (a waste toxic compound involved in amino acid deamination) excreted in their honeydew. Aphid-infested thistles had the highest number of aphid-tending ants when they grew on intermediate rich-substrates. Ants selected honeydew with a lower C:N ratio (compared to unfertilized plants), but fewer workers patrolled plants with the highest fertilization treatment likely due to increased uric acid in the honeydew. 4. We showed that enhanced soil nutrients brought plant C:N ratio closer to aphid requirements, enhancing their performance and promoting ant attendance. But a disproportionate increase in fertilization did not further improve aphid performance while it decreases the attraction of protective mutualists, which would make aphid populations more vulnerable to attack by natural enemies, inducing an ecological cost. 5. This study highlights the complex role of bottom-up cascading effects triggered by increases in soil nutrient availability and the importance of evaluating not only the physiological and population cost and benefits of it but also the ecological ones; especially when it alters mutualistic interactions.
publishDate 2022
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2022
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion
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status_str acceptedVersion
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url http://rdi.uncoma.edu.ar/handle/uncomaid/16831
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv PICT 2015-0578 to MNL and PICT 2017-1940 to EB.
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
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application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv British Ecological Society
publisher.none.fl_str_mv British Ecological Society
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Funtional Ecology
reponame:Repositorio Digital Institucional (UNCo)
instname:Universidad Nacional del Comahue
reponame_str Repositorio Digital Institucional (UNCo)
collection Repositorio Digital Institucional (UNCo)
instname_str Universidad Nacional del Comahue
repository.name.fl_str_mv Repositorio Digital Institucional (UNCo) - Universidad Nacional del Comahue
repository.mail.fl_str_mv mirtha.mateo@biblioteca.uncoma.edu.ar; adriana.acuna@biblioteca.uncoma.edu.ar
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