Species traits and environmental characteristics together regulate ant-associated biodiversity.

ABSTRACT: Host-associated organisms (e.g., parasites, commensals, and mutualists) may rely on their hosts for only a portion of their life cycle. The life-history traits and physiology of hosts are well-known determinants of the biodiversity of their associated organisms. The environmental context may strongly influence this interaction, but the relative roles of host traits and the environment are poorly known for host-associated communities. We studied the roles of host traits and environmental characteristics affecting ant-associated mites in semi-natural constructed grasslands in agricultural landscapes of the Midwest USA. Mites are frequently found in ant nests and also riding on ants in a commensal dispersal relationship known as phoresy. During nonphoretic stages of their development, ant-ass

SUBMITTER: Campbell KU 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5016658 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature