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Pflanzenökologie & Systematik
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Pflanzenökologie & Systematik
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 Research /Forschung
Publications
/ Publikationen
Academic Service PhD Students
/ Doktoranden
Diploma Students
/ Diplomanden Teaching / Lehre |
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Scientist & Lecturer Plant Ecology & Systematics |
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Research interests/Forschungsinteresse
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1. Trophic webs
in fragmented tropical forest
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Collaboration with Inara Leal & Marcelo Tabarelli (University Recife, Brazil) DFG-funded [see DFG website for German Abstract] The consequences of habitat
fragmentation on food webs have been completely neglected although
the importance of trophical interactions on local species coexistence
and biodiversity is increasingly acknowledged |
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Preliminary Results
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2. Herbivory of
leaf-cutting ants
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Collaboration with Wolfram
Beyschlag (Univ. Bielfeld), Hubert
Herz (STRI, Panama) and Bert
Hölldobler (Univ. Würzburg), and Ron
Ryel (Utah State University)
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We study leaf-cutting
ants and their interaction with the forest vegetation at Barro
Colorado Island (Panama) as a model case to summarize and extend
present knowledge about herbivoral insect-plant relationships and their
consequences for structural and functional connections in tropical ecosystems.
Foraging activities of leaf-cutting ants were investigated in detail by means of both, a quantification of daily and seasonal harvesting rates and an extensive monitoring of host plant selection and spatial pattern of foraging (Wirth et al. 1997) . Herbivory rates were calculated at various ecological integration levels ranging from the single tree to the whole ecosystem. Using a light interception model we assessed the relationship between ant herbivory and the light distribution within individual tree crowns as well as the entire forest stand. Foliage losses caused by leaf-cutting ants were found to significantly change the penetrability of the canopy for radiation (Wirth et al. 1998). The results of 6 years of research on leaf-cutting ant herbivory and it´s effects on tropical forest vegetation is presented as a book (Wirth et al., 2003) . |
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3. Host-plants
and diet breadth of phasmids (Orthoptera, Phasmatodea)
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Collaboration with Donald
Windsor (STRI, Panama)
and Sven Bradler (University of Göttingen)
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The order Phasmatodea (walkingsticks
and leaf insects) is one out of nine orders of phytophagous insects
and contains more than 2500 folivorous species that occur worldwide
with a concentration in tropical regions. Most phasmids live cryptic,
resembling sticks and leaves. The majority of species is active at nights.
Although phasmids are common herbivores in many tropical systems, little
is known about their biology.
A PhD project (Dr. Juergen Berger) project aimed to study the phasmids in a semideciduous rainforest of Barro Colorado Island (Panama) (abstract). Main foci of this research were abundance, distribution patterns, diet breadth and specialisation degree of phasmids (Berger& Wirth 2001a,b). Community parameters were assessed by nocturnal line-transect censuses and diet breadth was determined by means of feeding-trial bioassays. In order to evaluate bottom-up and top down factors we analyzed feeding prefercences as affected by leaf characters and quantified predation by means of field experiments (Berger & Wirth, 2004; pdf). |
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4. Temporal variability
of ant protection in Passiflora coccinea and the affect of rainfall
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Collaboration with Inara
Leal (University Recife, Brazil)
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Owing to the varying investments
and the resulting benefits of the partners involved, ant-plant interactions
range widely from strong, obligate mutualism (myrmecophytism) with specialized
plant-inhabiting ants, to weak facultative associations in which one
or more ant partners live away from plants but occasionally visit them
for food. This complexity of ant-plant mutualism has been described
copiously but a discussion has only recently been opened on the causes
of variability and the ecological factors that regulate these interactions.
For example, ant defense has been shown to be rapidly inducible by cues
associated with herbivory, which can be viewed as a mechanism to reduce
the costs of maintaining an ant defense.
In a study cunducted in French Guiana we found evidence for a short-term reduction of ant activity on extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) of Passiflora coccinea after episodes of rainfall. Besides a delayed ant response, watering resulted in reduced rates of encounter, attack, and removal of termites. The results imply that the anti-herbivore activity of ants visiting EFNs may be constrained by rainfall (Wirth & Leal 2001). |
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Further Links
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5. Diversity and
function of symbiontic Streptomycetes communities in leaf-cutting ants
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Collaboration with Christian
Kost (Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena) & Matthias
Redenbach (Abt. Genetics, Univ. of Kaiserslautern)
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Acromyrmex octospinosus colonies
of distinct habitats at Paracou
(French Guiana) have been used to isolate different strains of Streptomycetes.
Colony specifity of the bacterial communities was high, only 15% of all species occurred in more than one colony and just 5% were present in both habitats. This low similarity between colonies suggests that the total number of morphospecies in attine populations is unexpectedly high. Bioassays with Streptomycetes against the garden parasite Escovopsis indicated that the inhibitory effects differed largely between morphospecies. Considering high rates of resistance formation in known fungal parasites the mutualistic interaction between fungus growing ants and a broad arsenal of Streptomyces bacteria may be seen as an evolutionary response to the specialised and highly virulent garden parasite Escovopsis. |
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Further Links
Leaf-cutting ants and symbiontic Streptomyces |
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PhD Students
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Diploma and Master Students
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Teaching
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BSc. Level Courses:
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Diploma and MSc. level courses:
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Publications
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Silva, P. S. D., Leal, I. R., Wirth, R. & Tabarelli, M. Spatial distribution and fruiting phenology of Protium heptaphyllum Aublet (March.) (Burceraceae) determine the design of the underground foraging system of Atta sexdens L. (Formicidae). Neotropical Entomology, accepted. Silva, P. S. D., Leal, I. R., Wirth, R., Melo, F. P. L. & Tabarelli, M. Leaf-cutting ants alter seedling assemblages across second-growth stands of Brazilian Atlantic forest. Journal of Tropical Ecology, accpeted. Leal, I. R., Wirth, R. & Tabarelli, M. Formigas cortadeiras e a ambigüidade de suas relações com plantas. 2012. In: Del Claro, K. and Silingardi, H. M. T. Ecologia de Interações Plantas-Animais. Uma Abordagem Ecológico-Evolutiva, p. 217-239. Technical Books Editora Ltda., Rio de Janeiro. Colesie C., Scheu S., Green T.G., Weber B., Wirth R. & Büdel B. 2011. The advantage of growing on moss: facilitative effects on photosynthetic performance and growth in the cyanobacterial lichen Peltigera rufescens. Oecologia. DOI: 10.1007/s00442-011-2224-5. Dohm, C., Leal, I. R., Tabarelli, M., Meyer, S. T. & Wirth, R. 2011. Leaf-cutting ants proliferate in the Amazon: an expected response to forest edge? Journal of Tropical Ecology, 27: 645-649. Kost, C., Tremmel, M. & Wirth, R. 2011. Do Leaf Cutting Ants Cut Undetected? Testing the Effect of Ant-Induced Plant Defences on Foraging Decisions in Atta colombica. PLoS ONE 6(7): e22340. Schoenian, I., Spiteller, M., Ghaste, M., Wirth, R., Herz, H. & Spiteller, D. 2011. Chemical basis of the synergism and antagonism in microbial communities in the nests of leaf-cutting ants. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences doi:10.1073/pnas.1008441108 . Leal, I. R., Wirth, R. & Tabarelli, M. 2011. Dispersão de sementes por formigas cortadeiras. In: DellaLucia, T. M. C. Formigas cortadeiras. Da bioecologia ao manejo, p. 236-248. 2011. Editora da Universidade de Viçosa, Viçosa. Meyer,
S. T., Leal, I. R., Tabarelli, M. & Wirth,
R. 2011. Ecosystem
engineering by leaf-cutting ants: nests of Atta
cephalotes
drastically alter forest structure and microclimate. Ecological
Entomology 36: 14-24. Falcão, P. F., Pinto, S. R. R., Wirth, R. & Leal, I. R. 2011. Edge-induced narrowing of dietary diversity in leaf-cutting ants. Bulletin of Entomological Research 101: 305-311. Bieber, A. G. D., Oliveira, M. A., Wirth, R., Tabarelli, M. & Leal, I. R. 2011. Do abandoned nests of leaf-cutting ants enhance plant recruitment in the Atlantic forest? Austral Ecology 36: 220-232. Meyer, S. T., Leal, I. R., Tabarelli, M. & Wirth, R. 2010. Performance and fate of tree seedlings on and around nests of the leaf-cutting ant Atta cephalotes: Ecological filters in a fragmented forest. Austral Ecology DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-9993.2010.02217.x: no. Corrêa, M., Silva, P., Wirth, R., Tabarelli, M. & Leal, I. 2010. How leaf-cutting ants impact forests: drastic nest effects on light environment and plant assemblages. Oecologia 162: 103–115. Wirth, R. 2009. Book review: The tropical mountain forest - patterns and processes in a biodiversity hotspot, S.R. Gradstein, J. Homeier, D. Gansert (Eds). Universitätsverlag Göttingen, Göttingen (2008). 217 pp. 38,00 €, ISBN: 978-3-940344-22-9. In: Basic and Applied Ecology 10: 684-685. Corrêa, M. M., Silva, P. S. D., Wirth, R., Tabarelli, M. & Leal, I. R. (2009) How leaf-cutting ants impact forests: drastic nest effects on light environment and plant assemblages. Oecologia 162: 103–115. Meyer, S. T., Leal, I.R., Wirth, R. (2009) Persisting hyper-abundance of keystone herbivores (Atta spp.) at the edge of an old Brazilian Atlantic Forest fragment. Biotropica 41: 711-716. Haeder S., Wirth R., Herz H., Spiteller, D. (2009) Candicidin-producing Streptomyces support leaf-cutting ants to protect their fungus garden against the pathogenic fungus Escovopsis. PNAS 106: 4742-4746. Silva, P.S.D., Bieber, A.G.D., Leal, I.R., Wirth R., Tabarelli, M. (2009) Decreasing abundance of leaf-cutting ants across a chronosequence of advancing Atlantic forest regeneration. Journal of Tropical Ecology 25:1–5. Almeida, W. R., Wirth, R., Leal, I. R. (2008) Edge-mediated reduction of phorid parasitism on leaf-cutting ants in a Brazilian Atlantic forest. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 129: 251-257 pdf Wirth, R., Meyer, S.T., Leal, I.R. and Tabarelli, M. 2008. Plant Herbivore Interactions at the Forest Edge. In: Lüttge, U., Beyschlag, W. and Murata, J. (eds). Progress in Botany 69: 423-448. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg. Silva, P. D., Leal, I.R., Wirth, R., Tabarelli, M. 2007. Harvesting of Protium heptaphyllum Aublet (March.) seeds (Burseraceae) by the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens L. promotes seed aggregation and seedling mortality". Revista Brasileira de Botânica 30: 553-560, pdf. Wirth, R., Meyer, S.T., Almeida, W.R., Araújo Jr, M.V., Barbosa, V.S., Leal, I.R. (2007) Increasing densities of leaf-cutting ants (Atta spp.) with proximity to the edge in a Brazilian Atlantic forest. Journal of Tropical Ecology 23: 501-505, pdf. Kost, Ch., Lakatos, T., Arendholz, W-R., Redenbach, M. & Wirth, R. 2007. Unspecific association between filamentous bacteria and fungus-growing ants. Naturwissenschaften, DOI 10.1007/s00114-007-0262-y, pdf . Urbas, P., Araújo Jr., M., Leal, I.R. Wirth, R. 2007. Cutting More from cut forests - edge effects on foraging and herbivory of leaf-cutting ants. Biotropica 39: 489-495, pdf. Leal, I. R., Wirth, R. & Tabarelli, M. 2007. Seed dispersal by ants in the semi-arid Caatinga of northeast Brazil. Annals of Botany 99: 885-894, pdf. Meyer, S., Roces, F., Wirth, R. 2006. Selecting the drought stressed: Effects of plant stress on intraspecific and within-plant herbivory patterns of the leaf-cutting ant Atta colombica. Functional Ecology 20:973-981, pdf. Leal, I.R, Fischer, E., Kost, Ch., Tabarelli, M., Wirth, R. 2006. Ant protection against herbivores and nectar thieves in Passiflora coccinea flowers. Ecoscience: 13: 431-438, pdf. Silva, P. D., Leal, I.R., Wirth, R., Tabarelli, M. "Harvesting of Protium heptaphyllum Seeds (Burseraceae) by the Leaf-Cutting Ant Atta sexdens Promotes Seed Aggregation and Seedling Mortality". Revista Brasileira de Botânica, accepted. Corrêa, M.M., Bieber, A.G.D, Wirth, R. & Leal, I.R. 2005 Occurrence of Atta cephalotes (L.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Alagoas, Northeastern Brazil. Neotropical Entomology, 34 : 695-698. pdf Kost C., Gama de Oliveira E., Knoch T. & Wirth R. 2005. Temporal and spatial patterns, plasticity, and ontogeny of foraging trails in leaf-cutting ants. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 21: 677 – 688. pdf Berger, J. & Wirth, R. 2004. Predation-mediated Mortality of Early Life Stages: A Field Experiment with Nymphs of an Herbivorous Stick Insect (Metriophasma diocles). Biotropica, 36 :424-428. pdf Wirth, R., Beyschlag, W., Ryel, R., Herz, H. & Hölldobler, B. 2003. The herbivory of leaf-cutting ants. A case study on Atta colombica in the tropical rainforest of Panama. Accepted by Ecological Studies, Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York. Cover and abstract Wirth, R., Weber, B. & Ryel, R. 2001. Spatial and temporal variability of canopy structure in a tropical moist forest. Acta Oecologia 22: 235-244. pdf Wirth, R. & Leal, I. 2001. Rainfall affects temporal variability of ant protection in Passiflora coccinea. Ecoscience, 450-453. pdf Wirth, R., Kost, C., Schmidt, S. 2001. Costs of trail construction and maintenance may affect the pattern of herbivory in leaf-cutting ants. In: G. Zotz, Ch. Körner (eds.) The functional importance of biodiversity. Verhandlungen der Gesellschaft für Ökologie 31: 315. Berger, J., Wirth, R. 2001a. Physical antiherbivore defense does not determine preference of a specialist stick insect. In: G. Zotz, Ch. Körner (eds.) The functional importance of biodiversity. Verhandlungen der Gesellschaft für Ökologie 31: 311. Berger, J., Wirth, R. 2001b. Diversity and diet breadth of stick insects (Phasmatodea) in a Panamanian semi-deciduous rainforest). In: G. Zotz, Ch. Körner (eds.) The functional importance of biodiversity. Verhandlungen der Gesellschaft für Ökologie 31: 338. Wirth, R., Kirsch, H. & Büdel, B. 2001. Verbreitungsmuster und Dynamik der Wiederausbreitung von Bartflechten der Gattungen Usnea und Bryoria im Spessart. Hoppea, Denkschr. Regensb. Bot. Ges, 62: 411-436. Wirth, R. 1999. Blattschneiderameisen und Pflanzen: Wer kontrolliert wen? Ausmaß und Muster der Herbivorie von Blattschneiderameisen. Pg. 203-215 in Beyschlag, W. & Steinlein, T. (eds.). Ökophysiologie pflanzlicher Interaktionen. Bielefelder Ökologische Beiträge 14: 203-215. Wirth, R., Weigelt, A., Herz, H., Hölldobler, B. & Beyschlag, W. 1998. Differential herbivory by leaf-cutting ants and consequences for light availability within tropical forest vegetation. In Dalitz, H., Haverkamp, M., Homeier, J. & Breckle, S.W. (eds.). GTÖ 98. Kurzbeiträge zur Tropenökologie. Bielefelder Ökologische Beiträge 12. Dalling, J. W. & Wirth, R. 1998. Dispersal of Miconia argentea seeds by the leaf-cutting ant Atta colombica. Journal of Tropical Ecology 14: 705-710. pdf Herz, H., Wirth, R., Hölldobler, B. & Beyschlag, W. 1998. High rate of leaf-cutter ant colony movements in a tropical forest. In: Dalitz H, Haverkamp M, Homeier J, Breckle SW (eds.). GTÖ 98. Kurzbeiträge zur Tropenökologie. Bielefelder Ökologische Beiträge 12. Wirth, R., Beyschlag, W., Ryel, R. J. & Hölldobler, B. 1997. Annual foraging of the leaf-cutting ant Atta colombica in a semideciduous rain forest in Panama. Journal of Tropical Ecology 13: 741-757. pdf Wirth, R. 1996. Der Einfluß von Blattschneiderameisen der Gattung Atta auf einen tropischen halbimmergrünen Regenwald in Panama. Dissertation, Würzburg. Wirth, R., & Büdel B., (1994): Das Auftreten von Pycnidien bei fruchtenden und sterilen Formen von Usnea florida (L.) Hoff. (Lecanorales, Usneaceae). Nova Hedwigia 58: 13-20. |
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Presentations
at Meetings/Symposia
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LEAL, I.R. & WIRTH, R. 2011. Leaf-cutting ants as a disturbance regime promoting self-replacing pioneer communities and ecosystem decay. Talk. Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Arusha, Tanzania. SCHMIDT, S., DOHM, C., LEAL I. R., WIRTH R. 2011. Fragmentation-induced edge effects on the top-down-control of insect herbivores in the Atlantic forest of NE-Brazil. Talk. Annual Meeting of the Germany Society for Tropical Ecology, Frankfurt, Germany. WIRTH, R., TREMMEL, M., STEPHAN, J. & KOST, C. 2011. Delayed induction of plant defenses by leaf-cutting ants: Unveiling the secrets of a key herbivore? Talk. Annual Meeting of the Germany Society for Tropical Ecology, Frankfurt, Germany. WIRTH, R. 2011. Das Geheimnis der PilzgärtnerInnen: Das Geheimnis der PilzgärtnerInnen: die Erfolgsgeschichte der Blattschneiderameisen im brasilianischen Regenwald. Invited talk, Studium Integrale, TU Kaiserslautern, Germany. WIRTH, R., Leal, I., Tabarelli, M. 2010. Does forest fragmentation transform leaf-cutting ants (Atta spp.) from ‘good’ to ‘bad’ ecosystem engineers?(Invited talk, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, INPA, Manaus, Brazil. WIRTH, R. 2009. Ursachen und Konsequenzen der Hyperproliferation von Blattschneiderameisen. Oder: macht anthropogene Waldfragmentierung aus ‚guten’ Ökosystemingenieuren ‚böse’ Schädlinge? Invited talk, Department of Experimental and Systems Ecology, University of Bielefeld; Prof. Beyschlag. LEAL, I. R., SILVA, P. S. D., BIEBER, A. G. D., MEYER, S. T., CORRÊA, M. M., TABARELLI, M. & WIRTH, R. 2009. Formigas cortadeiras como engenheiras do ecossistema na floresta Atlântica Nordestina. Talk. XIX Simpósio de Mirmecologia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto - MG, 1-8. MEYER, S.T., LEAL, I.R., TABARELLI, M. & WIRTH, R. 2009. Ecological filters in a fragmented forest: plant recruitment on and around leaf-cutting ant nests. Talk. Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Marburg, Germany. MEYER, S.T., NEUBAUER, M., LEAL, I.R. & WIRTH, R. 2009. Intensified ecosystem engineering in a fragmented forest: soil perturbations by hyper-abundant leaf-cutting ants. Talk. Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Marburg, Germany. BARBOSA, V.S., WIRTH, R. & LEAL, I. R. 2009. Leaf-cutting ant herbivory reduces plant reproductive success. Poster. Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Marburg, Germany. SPITELLER, D., HAEDER, S., WIRTH, R., HERZ, H. 2009. How leaf cutting ants defend their fungus garden against the pathogen Escovopsis. Talk. Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Marburg, Germany. WIRTH, R., LEAL, I.R., TABARELLI, M. & MEYER, S.T. 2009. Does forest fragmentation turn leaf-cutting ants from ‘good’ to ‘bad’ ecosystem engineers? Talk. Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Marburg, Germany. RIBEIRO-NETO, J.D., PINHO, B.X., MEYER, S., WIRTH, R. & LEAL, I. R. 2009. Leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens forages preferentially on stressed plants. Poster. Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Marburg, Germany. TREMMEL, M., KOST, CH. & WIRTH, R. 2009: Do leaf-cutting ants go undetected? Evidence for delayed induced defence following cumulative herbivory by Atta colombica in lima bean plants. Talk. Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Marburg, Germany. DOHM, C., PINTO, S.R.R., LIMA, D.G.P., LEAL, I.R., TABARELLI, M. & WIRTH, R. 2009. Comparing the effects of forest fragmentation in tropical and temperate zones: lessons and perspectives from studies in Brazil and Germany. Poster. Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Marburg, Germany. LEAL, I. R., WIRTH, R. MEYER. S. & TABARELLI. M. 2008. Edge creation promotes proliferation of herbivores. Talk. Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Paramaribo, Suriname. MEYER. S., LEAL, I. R., TABARELLI. M. & WIRTH, R. 2008. Hyper-abundant ecosystem engineer (Atta cephalotes) impacts microclimate and plant recruitment at the forest edge. Talk. Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Paramaribo, Suriname. WIRTH, R. & LEAL, I. R. 2008. Distorted species interaction at the forest edge: discussion and conclusion. Talk. Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Paramaribo, Suriname. COSTA, U. A. S., WIRTH, R. & LEAL, I. R. 2008. Ant-plant interaction in fragments of the Atlantic Forest in North-East Brazil. Poster. Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Paramaribo, Suriname. BEZERRA, T. C. S., BARBOSA, V. S., WIRTH, R. & LEAL, I. R. 2008. Espécies vegetais de borda: o sucesso reprodutivo é influenciado negativamente pela herbivoria das formigas cortadeiras? 59 Congresso Nacional de Botânica, Natal. RIBEIRO, E. S., ARAÚJO JR, M. V., WIRTH, R. & LEAL, I. R. 2008. Clareiras Naturais: existem padrões de tamanho e origem para as Florestas Neotropicais? Poster. 59 Congresso Nacional de Botânica, Natal. JÜRGENS S., MEYER S., LEAL I. R., WIRTH R. 2007. Uncluttered ant nests: leafcutters promote canopy and understory gaps. Poster. 20th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Tropical Ecology , Bonn. PASSLACK M., MEYER S., LEAL I. R., WIRTH R. 2007. Cutting the drought stressed: food plant preference of Atta cephalotes. Poster. 20th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Tropical Ecology, Bonn. WIRTH R., LEAL I. R. 2007. Cutting more from cut forests: drastic edge effects on colony density and herbivory pressure of leaf-cutting ants. Talk. Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Morelia, Mexico. MEYER S., LEAL I. R., TABARELLI M., WIRTH R. 2007. Leaf-cutting ants as ecosystem engineers: microclimatic gradients in the vicinity of Atta cephalotes nests. Talk. Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Morelia, Mexico. WIRTH R., LEAL I.R. & TABARELLI M. 2006. Leaf-cutting ants (Atta spp.) both enhance and benefit from forest fragmentation. Talk. 19th Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Ecology (GTÖ). Kaiserslautern, Germany. Abstract CORRÊA M.M., WIRTH R., TABARELLI M., LEAL I.R. 2006. Leaf-cutting ants in a remnant of the atlantic forest: disruption of forest regeneration? Poster. 19th Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Ecology (GTÖ). Kaiserslautern, Germany. Abstract DOHM CH., MEYER S.T., LEAL I.R., WIRTH R. 2006. Living outside but cutting within: high colony densities of leaf-cutting ants in front of the forest edge. Poster. 19th Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Ecology (GTÖ). Kaiserslautern, Germany. Merian Prize for the best oral presentation. Abstract LAKATOS T., REDENBACH M., KOST CH., ARENDHOLZ, W-R., WIRTH, R. 2006 The white crust on cuticles of fungus-growing ants: is it really symbiotic bacteria? Poster. 19th Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Ecology (GTÖ). Kaiserslautern, Germany. Abstract WIRTH R., LEAL I.R. & TABARELLI M. 2005. Increasing leaf-cutting ant density in fragmented Brazilian Atlantic forests: causes and consequences. Invited talk in Symposium "Ecology and Conservation of Fragmented Tropical Landscapes". Annual meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology (ATB). Uberlandia, MG, Brasil. MEYER S., ROCES F. & WIRTH R. 2005. Selecting the drought stressed: Effects of plant stress on intraspecific and within-plant herbivory patterns of leaf-cutting ants. Talk. Annual meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology (ATB). Uberlandia, MG, Brasil. ALMEIDA W.R., WIRTH R. & LEAL I.R. 2005. Decreased abundance of parasitic phorid flies through forest fragmentation? Poster. Annual meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology (ATB). Uberlandia, MG, Brasil. Abstract ARAÚJO M.V., URBAS P. WIRTH R. & LEAL I.R. 2005. Cutting more from cut forests - effects of habitat fragmentation on leaf-cutting ant herbivory in the Brazilian Atlantic forest. Poster. Annual meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology (ATB). Uberlandia, MG, Brasil. Abstract BARBOSA V.S., WIRTH R., SOUZA-MOTTA C. & LEAL I. R. 2005. The inhibitory activity of filamentous fungi isolated from the fungus gardens of leaf-cutting ants (Atta cephalotes). Poster. Annual meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology (ATB). Uberlandia, MG, Brasil. Abstract CORRÊA M. M., TARDIF S.R., TABARELLI M., WIRTH R. & LEAL I. R. 2005. Foraging of Atta cephalotes in a remnant of Atlantic forest in northeast Brazil: a threat to forest regeneration? Poster. Annual meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology (ATB). Uberlandia, MG, Brasil. Abstract FALCÃO P. F, WIRTH R. & LEAL I.R. 2005. Effects of habitat fragmentation on leaf-cutting ant diet breadth in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Poster. Annual meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology (ATB). Uberlandia, MG, Brasil. Abstract SILVA P.S.D., CORRÊA M.M., TABARELLI M., WIRTH R. & LEAL I.R. 2005. Do leaf-cutting ant nests affect seed germination and seedling establishment in forest fragments? Poster. Annual meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology (ATB). Uberlandia, MG, Brasil. Abstract SILVEIRA U.A., URBAS P., WIRTH R. & LEAL I.R. 2005. Increased growth rates of Atta cephalotes colonies in response to forest fragmentation. Poster. Annual meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology (ATB). Uberlandia, MG, Brasil. Abstract Meyer, S. Roces, F. & Wirth, R. 2005. Cutting from the drought stressed: Effects of plant stress on intraspecific host plant selection of leaf-cutting ants. 18th annual meeting of Society for Tropical Ecology (GTÖ). Berlin, Germany. Merian Prize for the best oral presentation. Abstract Urbas, P, Bieber L, Leal IR, Nascimento MS, Wirth R (2004) What leaf-cutting ants want? Interplay between plant defensive compounds and sugar in the diet of a dominant herbivore (Poster). 17th annual meeting of Society for Tropical Ecology (GTÖ). Bayreuth, Germany. Merian Prize for the best poster presentation. Abstract Urbas P, Almeida WR, Barbosa V, Falcão PF, Knoechelmann CM, Silveira ÚA, Urbas P, Vieira-Jr. MA, Leal IR, Wirth R (2003a) Increase of leaf-cutting ant density through forest fragmentation: a result of altered trophic structure? 16° Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Ecology. Rostock, Germany. Merian Prize for the best oral presentation. Abstract Urbas P, Meyer N, Wirth R, Leal IR (2003b) Processo de fragmentação afeta a qualidade do forrageamento de herbívoros dominantes do Neotrópico: evidências das características das folhas. 54º Congresso Nacional de Botânica, Belém, Brazil. Abstract Wirth R, Almeida WR, Barbosa V, Falcão PF, Knoechelmann CM, Silveira ÚA, Urbas P, Vieira-Jr MA, Leal IR (2003b) Forest fragmentation process i increases density of leaf-cutting ants in the Brazilian Atlantic rain forest. 16° Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Ecology. Rostock, Germany. Abstract |
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