SEPG 39_39 - Date Awarded 2005
Associations between mites and their army ant hosts
Stefanie M. Berghoff, Eberhard Wurst and Nigel R. Franks
Abstract
Army ants are among the most important predators within tropical ecosystems. Their daily raids have a crucial effect on the abundance and diversity of their arthropod prey. In the light of rapid loss of tropical biodiversity, the conservation of army ants is essential, as their extinction would lead to the co-extinction of many associated species. A first step towards a conservation plan is to understand the population structures of army ants and their associates. While investigating the genetic population structure of the army ant Eciton burchellii in another project, this BES grant enabled us to investigate the diversity and abundance of the most common and diverse group of army ant associates: mites.
We collected 150 worker ants from each of 21 E. burchellii colonies. Each worker was inspected for mite infestation. Mite number, their location on the ants and the size of the ants were recorded.
None of the colonies was free of mites. Mite infestation varied among colonies, but averaged 4%. We assigned mites to one of four groups according to their level of integration in the ant colony. We gained valuable data on mite preferences both for specific worker size classes and for specific locations on the ants.
In conclusion, this study enabled us to lay out the foundation for a number of subsequent studies, including the investigation of possible arms races between army ants and specific mites. Such studies will illuminate the evolutionary ecology of army ants and their associates.
Full report: SEPG39_39 (This link will be made live in 2008)
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