Fungiculture and the choice of substrates by attine ants
1992
Stradling, D.J. (Exeter Univ. (UK). Dept. of Biological Sciences) | Powell, R.J.
Leaves from 29 species of neotropical trees were tested for sap pH, protein and soluble phenolic content, and relative astringency. Agar substrates containing leaf material were inoculated with the attine symbiont Attamyces bromatificus and its growth was recorded. Sucrose solutions, also containing leaf material were presented to laboratory cultures of Atta cephalotes and Acromyrmex octospinosus and the preferences of foragers monitored. Leaf pH was found to correlate strongly with available protein and to be the most important factor in fungal yield. There was a significant correlation between available protein and palatability to both ant species. Palatability to foragers and fungal growth did not correlate and workers were attracted to some materials which would not support fungal growth whilst avoiding others which would support vigourous fungal growth. It is suggested that the pH of leaf sap acts is an important feature in the selection of substrates by leaf-cutting ants and that repeated changing of the material collected minimizes the deleterious effects of utilizing unsuitable substrates.
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