Ant exclusion experiment on aphid colonies

Knowledge graph centered on Ant exclusion experiment on aphid colonies with 71 nodes and 141 connections. Top connected: Ligusticum porteri, Atriplex canescens, Asteraceae, Lepidoptera, Erigeron.

Method synopsis

Experimental manipulation using physical barriers to exclude ants from aphid colonies while maintaining control colonies with ant access. Uses paired treatment design on same plants to test effects of ant attendance on aphid fitness.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 14 papers using this protocol.

Procedure from a recent peer-reviewed implementation

Steps below were extracted from the most recent peer-reviewed implementation of this protocol in the corpus — Mechanisms underlying plant sexual dimorphism in multi-trophic arthropod communities (2013), Ecology. The protocol was originally introduced by Assessing the quality of different ant species as partners of a myrmecophilous butterfly (2001), Oecologia. Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Conduct ant exclusion experiments
   Eight blocks of plants were selected per site with two male and two female plants each, for two experimental inflorescences per plant for a total of 128 experimental inflorescences. Within each block, one male and one female plant were assigned to receive a single unwinged aphid on each inflorescence, representing colony establishment. Ants were then excluded from one inflorescence, with the second inflorescence serving as a control. Plants were then stocked with aphids at a mean initial density of 12 ± 1 aphids per plant.
   Quantities: 128 experimental inflorescences across 8 blocks at both JF and BC sites, 12 ± 1 aphids per plant initial densityDuration: Population monitoring for 14 days (beginning on 26 July) and 15 days (beginning on 20 July) for JF and BC, respectivelyConditions: During July flowering period
   Equipment: sticky paste barrier, mesh bags for aphid exclusion
2. Conduct predator exclusion experiments
   Pairs of similar sized inflorescence stalks were selected at JF in 2009 on 15 male and 15 female plants (n = 30 paired inflorescences). Ants were excluded from all inflorescences using tape coated with a sticky paste (Tanglefoot Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA) around the base of the stem. Both inflorescences were enclosed in breathable mesh bags, and for half of the bags several vertical slits were cut into bags to allow predator access.
   Quantities: 30 paired inflorescences on 15 male and 15 female plants, initial aphid density of 37 ± 2 aphids per plant

Typical Equipment

• Tanglefoot Company Grand Rapids Michigan
• parafilm SPI Supplies West Chester Pennsylvania
• wire

Output Measurements

• aphid population growth
• per capita growth rate
• ant activity
• predator abundance

Papers Using This Protocol (14)

Species Studied With This Protocol