Mutualism: Ants and their Insect Partners

by Bernhard Stadler, Anthony F. G. Dixon

Overview

A mutualism is an interaction between individuals of two different species of organism in which both benefit from the association. With a focus on mutualisms between ants and aphids, coccids, membracids and lycaenids, this volume provides a detailed account of the many different facets of mutualisms. Mutualistic interactions not only affect the two partners, but can also have consequences for higher levels of organization. By linking theory to case studies, the authors present an integrated account of processes and patterns of mutualistic interactions at different levels of organisation, from individuals to communities to ecosystems. Interactions between ants and their insect partners and their outcomes are explained from a resource-based, cost-benefit perspective. Covering a fascinating and growing subject in modern ecology, this book will be of interest to community and evolutionary ecologists and entomologists, at both research and graduate student level.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521860352
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	04/07/2008
Pages:	248
Product dimensions:	7.09(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.63(d)

About the Author

Bernhard Stadler is a Research Associate in the Department of Animal Ecology at the University of Bayreuth, Germany.

Tony Dixon is Emeritus Professor in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of East Anglia, UK, and author of two previous books with Cambridge University Press: Insect Predator-Prey Dynamics (2000), and Insect Herbivore-Host Dynamics (2005).

Table of Contents

Preface; 1. The scope of the problem; 2. Historical perspective; 3. Theories on mutualism; 4. Mutualisms between ants and their partners; 5. A special case: aphids and ants; 6. Multitropic level interactions; 7. Prospects and conclusions; References; Index.