Mutualism between Three Species of Tropical Piper (Piperaceae) and Their Ant Inhabitants

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Species (3) of the genus Piper (P. cenocladum C.DC., P. fimbriulatum C.DC., P. sagittifolium C.DC.) from the wet evergreen forest of Costa Rica are associated with ants of the genus Pheidole in what appears to be a coevolved mutualistic relationship. The ants live in petiolar cavities and in the stems which they hollow out; the plant produces lipid-rich food bodies inside the petiolar cavities on which the ants feed. The ants appear to increase the competitive fitness of the plants by removing encroaching vines. More importantly, it seems that the plant may receive a nutritional benefit from the ants'' presence by absorbing nutrients released from decaying nest material inside the stem.