Context dependent species interaction outcomes in ant-plant protection mutualisms

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dc.contributor.advisorHolland, J. Nathanielen_US
dc.creatorChamberlain, Scott A.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2011-07-25T01:38:18Zen_US
dc.date.available2011-07-25T01:38:18Zen_US
dc.date.issued2009en_US
dc.description.abstractWe often study the outcomes of species interactions, whether they be predation, competition, or mutualism, at one site in a single year. However, we increasingly recognize that species interaction outcomes are not static, but context dependent by varying along many ecological axes. Here, I asked to what extent and along what axes are ant-plant protection interactions, in which plants provide rewards for ants that in turn defend plants from herbivores, context dependent. First, a meta-analytic summary of published studies on ant-plant protection interactions revealed that interaction outcomes are on average mutualistic, and context dependency occurred due to plant reward type (domatia vs food bodies vs extrafloral nectaries), ant species richness, and latitude. Second, in a case study in the Sonoran Desert, extrafloral nectar production caused context dependent mutualistic and antagonistic ant-plant interactions, despite largely commensalistic interaction outcomes. These results suggest some ecological axes resulting in context dependency in mutualisms.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.callnoTHESIS ECOL. 2009 CHAMBERLAINen_US
dc.identifier.citationChamberlain, Scott A.. "Context dependent species interaction outcomes in ant-plant protection mutualisms." (2009) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/61814">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/61814</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/61814en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.en_US
dc.subjectBiologyen_US
dc.subjectEcologyen_US
dc.subjectBiology, Entomologyen_US
dc.titleContext dependent species interaction outcomes in ant-plant protection mutualismsen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentEcology and Evolutionary Biologyen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineNatural Sciencesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelMastersen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Artsen_US
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