Plants with Extrafloral Nectaries and Ants in Everglades Habitats
Koptur S. 1992. Plants with Extrafloral Nectaries and Ants in Everglades Habitats. Florida Entomologist. 75(1):38-50
The terrestrial vegetation of the inland areas of the Everglades is of three main types, occurring on oolite limestone substrate of progressively higher altitude: sawgrass prairie, or glade; pine woodland (with Pinus elliottii var. densa overstory); and broadleaved tree hammock. The author assessed the abundance of nectar-drinking ants using transects of honey baits in 1987-91. Abundance was greatest in pine woodland, and lowest in glade habitat. Recruitment of ants to baits was also greatest in pineland. Out of 891 species of vascular plants in the Everglades National Park, 78 species (9%) in 29 families have extrafloral nectaries. The proportion of species with extrafloral nectaries was greatest in pine woodland, as was the proportion of individuals with extrafloral nectaries. The pine woodlands, with the greatest nectar-drinking ant abundance, had the most plants with extrafloral nectaries of plants.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Koptur, Suzanne
- Units
- EVER
- Keywords
- Ants (Formicidae), Habitats, nectar, Plant Studies, Population Density, Vegetation Types