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  • © 2003

Herbivory of Leaf-Cutting Ants

A Case Study on Atta colombica in the Tropical Rainforest of Panama

  • Contains 16 brillant and beautiful color illustrations
  • Elucidates the ecological role of leaf-cutting ants and provides fundamental insights into the functioning of the rainforest ecosystem
  • The authors present not only their research results and ideas, but also their excitement for these fascinating animals
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies (ECOLSTUD, volume 164)

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Table of contents (15 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages I-XV
  2. About This Book

    • Rainer Wirth, Hubert Herz, Ronald J. Ryel, Wolfram Beyschlag, Bert Hölldobler
    Pages 1-3
  3. The Natural History of Leaf-Cutting Ants

    • Rainer Wirth, Hubert Herz, Ronald J. Ryel, Wolfram Beyschlag, Bert Hölldobler
    Pages 5-48
  4. The Study Area — Barro Colorado Island

    • Rainer Wirth, Hubert Herz, Ronald J. Ryel, Wolfram Beyschlag, Bert Hölldobler
    Pages 49-54
  5. Species Composition of the Forest

    • Rainer Wirth, Hubert Herz, Ronald J. Ryel, Wolfram Beyschlag, Bert Hölldobler
    Pages 55-59
  6. Forest Light Regimes

    • Rainer Wirth, Hubert Herz, Ronald J. Ryel, Wolfram Beyschlag, Bert Hölldobler
    Pages 61-69
  7. Canopy Structure of the Forest

    • Rainer Wirth, Hubert Herz, Ronald J. Ryel, Wolfram Beyschlag, Bert Hölldobler
    Pages 71-82
  8. Colony Dynamics

    • Rainer Wirth, Hubert Herz, Ronald J. Ryel, Wolfram Beyschlag, Bert Hölldobler
    Pages 83-90
  9. Harvest Dynamics

    • Rainer Wirth, Hubert Herz, Ronald J. Ryel, Wolfram Beyschlag, Bert Hölldobler
    Pages 91-110
  10. The Trail System

    • Rainer Wirth, Hubert Herz, Ronald J. Ryel, Wolfram Beyschlag, Bert Hölldobler
    Pages 111-120
  11. Host Plant Selection

    • Rainer Wirth, Hubert Herz, Ronald J. Ryel, Wolfram Beyschlag, Bert Hölldobler
    Pages 121-130
  12. Herbivory Rates

    • Rainer Wirth, Hubert Herz, Ronald J. Ryel, Wolfram Beyschlag, Bert Hölldobler
    Pages 131-149
  13. Herbivory and Light

    • Rainer Wirth, Hubert Herz, Ronald J. Ryel, Wolfram Beyschlag, Bert Hölldobler
    Pages 151-163
  14. Seed Dispersal by Leaf-Cutting Ants

    • Rainer Wirth, Hubert Herz, Ronald J. Ryel, Wolfram Beyschlag, Bert Hölldobler
    Pages 165-169
  15. Nutrient Cycling and Water Relations

    • Rainer Wirth, Hubert Herz, Ronald J. Ryel, Wolfram Beyschlag, Bert Hölldobler
    Pages 171-181
  16. Conclusions: Ecosystem Perspectives

    • Rainer Wirth, Hubert Herz, Ronald J. Ryel, Wolfram Beyschlag, Bert Hölldobler
    Pages 183-194
  17. Back Matter

    Pages 195-233

About this book

Plant-animal interactions have become a focus of ecological research, with the processes of herbivory being of special interest. This volume examines the interactions of leaf-cutting ants with the rainforest vegetation on Barro Colorado Islands in Central America. It is the synthesis of field research on multiple scales extending over a period of several years. This work can serve as a model study summarizing and extending knowledge about herbivorous insect-plant relationships, and the resulting consequences on structural and functional features of tropical ecosystems. The text is an invaluable reference for researchers and land managers working in the fields of plant-animal interactions, herbivory, community ecology and biodiversity.

Reviews

From the reviews:

"... an impressive account of almost a decades work on the ecological importance of leaf-cutting ants. ... a fascinating monograph ... So if you are asked by your librarian this year for a "wish-list of books to buy" then this monograph on the true ecosystem engineers of the tropics should definietly be on it." (Phytocoenologia)

"This volume examines the interactions of leaf-cutting ants with the rainforest vegetation on Barro Colorado Islands in Central America. It is the synthesis of field research on multiple scales extending over a period of several years. This work can serve as a model study summarizing and extending knowledge about herbivorous insect-plant relationships … . The text is an invaluable reference for researchers and land managers working in the fields of plant-animal interactions, herbivory, community ecology and biodiversity." (Ethology, Ecology & Evolution, Vol. 16 (2), 2004)

"The recently published book by R. Wirth and co-authors is an impressive account of almost a decades’ work on the ecological importance of leaf-cutting ants. … a fascinating monograph and hopefully an incentive for more, intensified research on the ecological impacts on leaf-cutting ants in the future. So if you are asked by your librarian this year for a ‘wish-list of books to buy’ then this monograph on the true ecosystem engineers of the tropics should definitely be on it." (Till Eggers, Phytocoenologia, Vol. 34 (1), 2004)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Fachbereich Biologie, Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine Botanik, Universität Kaiserslautern, Kaiserlautern, Germany

    Rainer Wirth

  • Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften, Lehrstuhl für Verhaltensphysiologie und Soziobiologie (Zoologie II), Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

    Hubert Herz, Bert Hölldobler

  • Department of Forest, Range and Wildlife Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, USA

    Ronald J. Ryel

  • Lehrstuhl für experimentelle Ökologie und Ökosystembiologie, Universität Bielefeld W4-107, Bielefeld, Germany

    Wolfram Beyschlag

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Herbivory of Leaf-Cutting Ants

  • Book Subtitle: A Case Study on Atta colombica in the Tropical Rainforest of Panama

  • Authors: Rainer Wirth, Hubert Herz, Ronald J. Ryel, Wolfram Beyschlag, Bert Hölldobler

  • Series Title: Ecological Studies

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-05259-4

  • Publisher: Springer Berlin, Heidelberg

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

  • Copyright Information: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2003

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-540-43896-0Published: 27 November 2002

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-642-07865-1Published: 19 October 2010

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-662-05259-4Published: 18 April 2013

  • Series ISSN: 0070-8356

  • Series E-ISSN: 2196-971X

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XV, 233

  • Number of Illustrations: 68 b/w illustrations, 8 illustrations in colour

  • Topics: Plant Ecology, Entomology, Plant Sciences, Animal Ecology, Invertebrates, Forestry

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access