Does ant behavior in aphid mutualisms vary by distance from a disturbed area, temperature and the type of species.

Abstract

Interactions between organisms are essential for maintaining natural communities. Something as small as the mutualism between ants and aphids can influence a variety of plant species. Our experiment aimed to understand how ants change their behaviors in the presence of a predator in high and low traffic areas. Using a paintbrush as a simulated predator, we attacked aphid communities on milkweed plants in two sites in the University of Michigan Biological Station's UV fields. We found no significant difference for leaving, tending, assisting, and attacking when related to the presence or absence of a predator and the distance from the road. However, we did find a significant difference for ignoring behavior in ants closer to the road and those unprovoked by a predator. This may occur because if the aphid nest is not being attacked then the ant will be doing something else, often categorized as ignoring. As humans invade new habitats, we can negatively impact these relationships causing a linked cascade of extinction throughout the community. By understanding the smallest relationships and how their responses may change, we can prevent large-scale changes and hopefully help future researchers understand the role of aphid and ant interactions within the whole system.