@article{MaschwitzFialaMoogetal.1991, author = {Maschwitz, Ulrich and Fiala, Brigitte and Moog, J. and Saw, L. G.}, title = {Two new myrmecophytic associations from the Malay Peninsula: ants of the genus Cladomyrma as partners of Saraca thaipingensis and Crypteronia griffithii}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-32992}, year = {1991}, abstract = {In Peninsular Malaysia the trees Saraca thaipingensis (Caesalpiniaceae) and Crypteronia griffithii (Crypteroniaceae) are inhabited by ants. In the vicinity ofGombak, near Kuala Lumpur, the hollow internodes of young Saraca thaipingensis plants are colonized mainly by two Cladomyrma species. In larger trees a Crematogaster sp. is also found. Crypteronia griffithii is inhabited by a third species of Cladomyrma. None of these species is conspecific with any of the three Cladomyrma taxa so far described. The colonies are founded by single mated queens, which have a conspicuous, sphecid wasp-like behaviour when searching for host plants and nest sites. They chew holes into the plant intern odes and hollow them out to provide nest sites. Coccids and pseudococcids are cultivated within the internodes. The homopterans are not carried by queens on their nuptial flights. They apparently find their way by themselves into the cavities or are perhaps carried there by the worker ants. The Cladomyrma ants on Crypteronia are not aggressive, in contrast to those on Saraca thaipingensis. The relationship of Crypteronia with ants seems to be obligatory, whereas Saraca was only partly colonized by Cladomyrma. The interaction of Saraca with Crematogaster sp. is loose and facultative, since the Crematogaster sp. also lives on other tree species. Our studies have now revealed four Cladomyrma spp. which are regularly associated with plants. The genus therefore seems to have an entirely myrmecophytic way of life.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{FialaFederleMaschwitzetal.1994, author = {Fiala, Brigitte and Federle, W. and Maschwitz, U. and Azarae, Idris}, title = {The first myrmecophytic 2-partner-system in the genus Macaranga: The association between Macaranga puncticulata and a Componotus (Colobopsis) in Malaysia}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-55144}, year = {1994}, abstract = {No abstract available}, subject = {Biologie}, language = {en} } @article{FialaMaschwitz1990, author = {Fiala, Brigitte and Maschwitz, Ulrich}, title = {Studies on the south east asian ant-plant association Crematogaster borneensis / Macaranga: adaptations of the ant partner.}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-32689}, year = {1990}, abstract = {C. borneensis (Myrmicinae) lives in dose association with several myrmecophytic species of the South East Asian pioneer tree genus Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae). The ants are adapted to the plants so dosely that they do not survive away from it. The only food they utilize is provided as food bodies by the plant and honeydew from specific scale insects kept inside the hollow internodes. The anatomy of the digestive tract is also adapted to life on the host plant: the crop is very sm all and can store only minute food quantities. C. borneensis exdusively colonizes certain Macaranga species. Queens as weIl as workers are able to recognize their host plant species, probably by chemical cues. Colony founding queens swarm throughout the year, mostly during darkness. There is strong competition among queens for host plants. Queens do not carry scale insects on their nuptial flight. Worker ants are active day and night. Most of them patrol and collect food bodies on the younger parts of the host plant. An important characteristic is their deaning behaviour, which results in removal of aIl foreign objects. Even though they are rather smalI, workers respond very aggressively to certain kinds of disturbance of the host plant. The ants attack most phytophagous insects and are especially effective in killing and removing smalI, softbodied herbivores (e.g. caterpillars). They do not possess a functional sting, but apply defensive secretion and-once biting an intruder-will not let go. Their effective alarm system results in a mass attack, which provides adequate defence for the colony and the host plant. A comparison with another Crematogaster species further illustrated the special adaptations of C. borneensis to its host plant.}, language = {en} } @article{FialaMaschwitzPongetal.1989, author = {Fiala, Brigitte and Maschwitz, Ulrich and Pong, Tho, Yow and Helbig, Andreas J.}, title = {Studies of a South East Asian ant-plant association : protection of Macaranga trees by Crematogaster borneensis}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-42857}, year = {1989}, abstract = {In the humid tropics of SE Asia there are some 14 myrmecophytic species of the pioneer tree genus Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae). In Peninsular Malaysia a close association exists between the trees and the small, non-stinging myrmicine Crema togas ter borneensis. These ants feed mainly on food bodies provided by the plants and have their colonies inside the hollow intemodes. In a ten months field study we were able to demonstrate for four Macaranga species (M. triloba, M. hypoleuca, M. hosei, M. hulletti) that host plants also benefit considerably from ant-occupation. Ants do not contribute to the nutrient demands of their host plant, they do, however, protect it against herbivores and plant competition. Cleaning behaviour of the ants results in the removal of potential herbivores already in their earliest developmental stages. Strong aggressiveness and a mass recruiting system enable the ants to defend the host plant against many herbivorous insects. This results in a significant decrease in leaf damage due to herbivores on ant-occupied compared to ant-free myrmecophytes as well as compared to non-myrmecophytic Macaranga species. Most important is the ants' defense of the host plant against plant competitors, especially vines, which are abundant in the well-lit pioneer habitats where Macaranga grows. Ants bite off any foreign plant part coming into contact with their host plant. Both ant-free myrmecophytes and non-myrmecophytic Macaranga species had a significantly higher incidence of vine growth than specimens with active ant colonies. This may be a factor of considerable importance allowing Macaranga plants to grow at sites of strongest competition.}, language = {en} } @article{WeisingFialaRamlochetal.1990, author = {Weising, K. and Fiala, Brigitte and Ramloch, K. and Kahl, K. and Epplen, J. T.}, title = {Olingonucleotide fingerprinting in angiosperms}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-42884}, year = {1990}, abstract = {No abstract available}, language = {en} } @article{MaschwitzFialaDolling1987, author = {Maschwitz, U. and Fiala, Brigitte and Dolling, W. R.}, title = {New trophobiotic symbioses of ants with South East Asian bugs}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-34030}, year = {1987}, abstract = {A trophobiotic relationship between two species of phloem-feeding plataspid bugs and an ant, Meranoplus mucronatus, was discovered on tree trunks in Malaysia. Similar relationships were found between coreid bugs and Crematogaster sp. and Anoplolepis longipes, on bamboo in the same area. The ants recruit to groups of the bugs and feed on the liquid, sugar-rich faeces of the larvae, stimulating release of the honeydew by tactile signals. They protect all stages of the bugs from disturbance by biting and by the use of defensive secretions. Phloem-feeding bugs in the families Plataspidae and Coreidae need long sty lets to pierce the thick bark of their host tree. The different methods of accommodating the resting stylets in these two families are described. The plataspids are described as Tropidotylus servus sp. novo and T. minister sp. novo A coreid previously reported in association with M. mucronatus in Malaya is described as Hygia cliens sp. novo The coreids on bamboo were determined as Cloresmus spp. and Notobitus affinis.}, language = {en} } @article{MaschwitzFialaLeeetal.1989, author = {Maschwitz, Ulich and Fiala, Brigitte and Lee, Ying Fah and Chey, Vun Khen and Tan, Fui Lian}, title = {New and little-known myrmecophytic associations from Bornean rain forests}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-42957}, year = {1989}, abstract = {The woody climber Millettia niuewenhuisii (Fabaceae) and the shrub Myrmeconauclea strigosa (Rubiaceae) in Sabah, Borneo are associated with ants. The hollow stems of Millettia nieuwenhuisii are regularly inhabited by an aggressive Cladomyrma sp., which keeps pseudococcids inside the stem. On Myrmeconauclea strigosa the ants live in hollow internodal swellings near the end of the branches. In this plant many different ant species use the nesting space in an opportunistic manner.}, language = {en} } @article{FialaMaschwitz1992, author = {Fiala, Brigitte and Maschwitz, Ulrich}, title = {Food bodies and their significance for obligate ant-association in the tree genus Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae)}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-32921}, year = {1992}, abstract = {The production of extrafloral nectar and food bodies plays an important role in many tropical ant-plant mutualisms. In Malaysia, a close association exists between ants and some species of the pioneer tree genus Macaranga (Euphorbiaccac). Macaranga is a very diverse genus which exhibits all stages ofintcraction with ants, from facultative to obligatory associations. The ants nest inside the hollow inlcrnodes and reed mainly on food budies provided by the plants. Food body production had previously been reported only in myrrnecophytic Macaranga species, where it is usually coneentrated on protected parts or the plants such as recurved stipules. We found that non-myrmecophytic Macaranga species also produce food bodies on leaves and stems, where they are collected by a variety or ants. Levels of food body production differ between facultatively and obligatorily ant-associated species but also among the various non-myrmecophytes. This may he rdated to the degree of interaction with ants. Food body production starts at a younger age in the myrmccophytic species than in the transitional or non-myrmcccophytic Macaranga. Although food bodies of the non-inhabited Macaranga species are collected by a variety of ants, there is nu evidence of association with specific ant species. Our observations suggest that food bodies enhance the evolution of ant-plant interactions. Production of food bodies alone, however, does not appear to be the most important factor for the development of obligate myrmccopllytism in Macaranga.}, language = {en} } @article{MaschwitzFialaSawetal.1994, author = {Maschwitz, Ulich and Fiala, Brigitte and Saw, L. G. and Norma-Rashid, Yusoff and Idris, Azarae Haji}, title = {Ficus obscura var. borneensis (Moraceae), a new non-specific ant-plant from Malesia}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-42926}, year = {1994}, abstract = {Ficus obscura var. borneensis is a true myrmecophyte. It spontaneously forms cavities (domatia) in parts of its twigs which open by slits, These occur in the internodes and are usually not swollen. The domatia are inhabited by a variety of non-specific tree-living ants including Crematogaster spp., Cataulacus sp., Tetramorium sp., Cardio condyla sp. and Camponotus sp.. Additionally the plant providL a su~ar-containing secretion from extrafloral nectaries on the lower surfaces of the leaves. Examination of herbarium specimens of 37 other South-east Asian Ficus species did not reveal a single specimen with domatia.}, language = {en} } @misc{Fiala1990, author = {Fiala, Brigitte}, title = {Extrafloral nectaries versus ant-Homoptera mutualisms : a comment on Becerra and Venable}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-32948}, year = {1990}, abstract = {No abstract available}, subject = {Nektarium}, language = {en} } @article{FialaMaschwitz1991, author = {Fiala, Brigitte and Maschwitz, Ulrich}, title = {Extrafloral nectaries in the genus Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae) in Malaysia: comparative studies of their possible significance as predispositions for myrmecophytism.}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-42863}, year = {1991}, abstract = {So me species of the paleotropical tree genus Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae) live in elose association with ants. Thc genus comprises the full range of species from those not regularly inhabited by ants to obligate myrmecophytes. In Malaysia (peninsular and Borneo) 23 ofthe 52 species areknown to be ant-associated (44\%). The simplest structural adaptation of plants to attract ants are extrafloral nectaries. We studied the distribution of extraflural nectaries in the genus Macaranga to assess the significance of this character as a possible predisposition for the evolution of obligate myrmecophytism. All species have marginal glands on the leaves. However, only the glands of nonmyrmecophytic species function as nectaries, whereas liquids secreted by these glands in myrmecophytic species did not contain sugar. Some non-myrmecophytic Macaranga and transitional Macaranga species in addition have extrafloral nectaries on the leaf blade near the petiole insertion. All obligatorily myrmecophytic Macaranga species, however, lack additional glands on the lamina. The non-myrmecophytic species are visited by a variety of different ant species, whereas myrmecophytic Macaranga are associated only with one specific ant-partner. Since these ants keep scale insects in the hollow sterns, reduction of nectary production in ant-inhabited Macaranga seems to be biologically significant. We interpret this as a means of (a) saving the assimilates and (b) stabilization of maintenance of the association's specificity. Competition with other ant species for food rewards is avoided and thereby danger ofweakening the protective function ofthe obligate antpartner for the plant is reduced. A comparison with other euphorb species living in the same habitats as Macaranga showed that in genera in which extrafloral nectaries are widespread, no myrmecophytes have evolved. Possession of extrafloral nectaries does not appear to be essential for the development of symbiotic ant-plant interactions. Other predispositions such as nesting space might have played a more important role.}, subject = {Macaranga}, language = {en} } @article{FialaMaschwitz1992, author = {Fiala, Brigitte and Maschwitz, Ulrich}, title = {Domatia as most important adaptations in the evolution of myrmecophytes in the paleotropical tree genus Macaranga (Euphorbiacae)}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-32935}, year = {1992}, abstract = {The paleotropical tree genus Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae) comprises all stages of interaction with ants, from facultative associations to obligate myrmecophytes. In SE.-Asia food availability does not seem to be the limiting factor for the development of a close relationship since all species provide food for ants in form of extrafloral nectar and/or food bodies. Only myrmecophytic Macaranga species offer nesting space for ants (domatia) inside intern odes which become hollow due to degeneration of the pith. Non-myrmecophytic species have a solid stem with a compact and wet pith and many resin ducts. The stem interior of some transitional species remains solid, but the soft pith can be excavated. The role of different ant-attracting attributes for the development of obligate ant-plant interactions is discussed. In the genus Macaranga, the provision of nesting space seems to be the most important factor for the evolution of obligate myrmecophytism.}, language = {en} } @article{FialaGrunskyMaschwitzetal.1994, author = {Fiala, Brigitte and Grunsky, Harald and Maschwitz, Ulrich and Linsenmair, Karl Eduard}, title = {Diversity of ant-plant interactions: Protective efficacy in Macaranga species with different degrees of ant-association.}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-32905}, year = {1994}, abstract = {The pioneer tree Macaranga in SE Asia has developed manyfold associations with ants. The genus comprises all stages of interaction with ants, from facultative relationships to obligate myrmecophytes. Only myrmecophytic Macaranga offer nesting space for ants and are associated with a specific ant partner. The nonmyrmecophytic species are visited by a variety of different ant species which are attracted by extrafloral nectaries (EFN) and food bodies. Transitional Macaranga species like M. hosei are colonized later in their development due to their stem structure. Before the colonization by their specific Crematogaster partner the young plants are visited by different ant species attracted by EFN. These nectaries are reduced and food body production starts as soon as colonization becomes possible. We demonstrated earlier that obligate ant partners can protect their Macaranga plants against herbivore damage and vine cover. In this study we focused on nonspecific interactions and studied M. tanarius and M. hosei, representing a non-myrmecophyte and a transitional species respectively. In ant exclusion experiments both M. tanarius and M. hosei suffered significantly higher mean leaf damage than controls, 37\% versus 6\% in M. hosei, 16\% versus 7\% in M. tanarius. M. tanarius offers both EFN and food bodies so that tests for different effects of these two food rewards could be conducted. Plants with food bodies removed but with EFN remaining had the lowest mean increase of herbivore damage of all experimental groups. Main herbivores on M. hosei were mites and caterpillars. Many M. tanarius plants were infested by a shootborer. Both Macaranga species were visited by various ant species. Crematogaster spp. being the most abundant. We found no evidence for any specific relationships. The results of this study strongly support the hypothesis that non-specific, facultative associations with ants can be advantageous for Macaranga plants. Food bodies appear to have lower attractive value for opportunistic ants than EFN and may require a specific dietary adaptation. This is also indicated by the fact that food body production in the transitional M. hosei does not start before stem structure allows a colonization by the obligate Crematogaster species. M. hosei thus benefits from facultative association with a variety of ants until it produces its first domatia and can be colonized by its obligate mutualist.}, language = {en} } @article{MaschwitzFialaLinsenmair1994, author = {Maschwitz, Ulrich and Fiala, Brigitte and Linsenmair, Karl Eduard}, title = {Clerodendrum fistulosum (Verbenanceae), an unspecific myrmecophyte from Borneo with spontaneously opening domatia}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-31013}, year = {1994}, abstract = {Clerodendrumjistulosum Becc. is a true myrmecophyte as it offers nesting space for ants in hollow intemodes. In contrast to previous reports our investigations proved that these domatia open by themselves, thus providing cavities for a variety of different ant species. In Sarawak, Malaysia, we did not find an obligate relationship between C. jistulosum and a specific ant-partner. For comparison, studies on herbarium material of other Clerodendrum species were carried out a further species, C. deflexum from the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra presumably also is myrmecophytic.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{FialaRabensteinMaschwitz1994, author = {Fiala, Brigitte and Rabenstein, R. and Maschwitz, Ulrich}, title = {Ant-attracting plant-structures: Food bodies of SE Asian Vitaceae}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-55177}, year = {1994}, abstract = {No abstract available}, subject = {Pflanzen}, language = {en} } @article{MaschwitzFialaLinsenmair1992, author = {Maschwitz, Ulrich and Fiala, Brigitte and Linsenmair, K. Eduard}, title = {A new ant-tree from SE Asia: Zanthoxylum myriacanthum (Rutaceae), the Thorny Ivy-Rue}, isbn = {0025-1291}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-42967}, year = {1992}, abstract = {Zanthoxylum myriacanthum, a small Rutaceous tree growing mainly in secondary hill forests in SE Asia, is a true myrmecophyte. It possesses stem domatia in the form of hollow branches with slitlike openings. Branch hollows and entrance slits are produced by the plant itself through pith degene~.tion ?u.d growth proceSses. If the entrance is not kept open by ants it closes again by growth ol the surrounding tissue after some time. The domatia are colonized opportunistic ally by different arboreous ants, e.g. Crematogaster and Campono tus. Additionally many small extrafloral nectaries are found on the leaflets of Zanthoxylum myriacanthum. Judging from herbarium studies and literature records at least four more true ant trees are found in the genus Zanthoxylum namely Z. rhetsa in SE Asia, Z. conspersipunctatum, Z. pluviatile and Z. vinkii in New Guinea. We could not confirm ant inhabitation in Drypetes pendula (Euphorbiaceae) on the Malay Peninsula, which has also been recorded to be an anttree.}, language = {en} }