Ants: Major Functional Elements in Fruit Agro-Ecosystems and Biological Control Agents

Ants are a very diverse taxonomic group. They display remarkable social organization that has enabled them to be ubiquitous throughout the world. They make up approximately 10% of the world’s animal biomass. Ants provide ecosystem services in agrosystems by playing a major role in plant pollination,...

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Main Authors: Lamine Diamé, Jean-Yves Rey, Jean-François Vayssières, Isabelle Grechi, Anaïs Chailleux, Karamoko Diarra
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2017-12-01
Series:Sustainability
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/1/23
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spelling doaj-2dcd7cbfe06a4acfa5ec6b2f4261bd6d2020-11-25T02:27:33ZengMDPI AGSustainability2071-10502017-12-011012310.3390/su10010023su10010023Ants: Major Functional Elements in Fruit Agro-Ecosystems and Biological Control AgentsLamine Diamé0Jean-Yves Rey1Jean-François Vayssières2Isabelle Grechi3Anaïs Chailleux4Karamoko Diarra5Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles, Centre pour le Développement de l’Horticulture, BP 3120 Dakar, SenegalInstitut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles, Centre pour le Développement de l’Horticulture, BP 3120 Dakar, SenegalCentre de Coopération Internationale de Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, UPR HortSys, F-34398 Montpellier, FranceCentre de Coopération Internationale de Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, University de Montpellier, HortSys, F-34398 Montpellier, FranceCentre de Coopération Internationale de Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, UPR HortSys, F-34398 Montpellier, FranceDépartement de Biologie Animale, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, BP 7925 Dakar, SenegalAnts are a very diverse taxonomic group. They display remarkable social organization that has enabled them to be ubiquitous throughout the world. They make up approximately 10% of the world’s animal biomass. Ants provide ecosystem services in agrosystems by playing a major role in plant pollination, soil bioturbation, bioindication, and the regulation of crop-damaging insects. Over recent decades, there have been numerous studies in ant ecology and the focus on tree cropping systems has given added importance to ant ecology knowledge. The only missing point in this knowledge is the reasons underlying difference between the positive and negative effects of ants in tree cropping systems. This review article provides an overview of knowledge of the roles played by ants in orchards as functional elements, and on the potential of Oecophylla weaver ants as biological control agents. It also shows the potential and relevance of using ants as an agro-ecological diagnosis tool in orchards. Lastly, it demonstrates the potential elements which may determine the divergent negative and positive of their effects on cropping systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/1/23Oecophylla sp.mango treeCitrusagroecosystem services
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Lamine Diamé
Jean-Yves Rey
Jean-François Vayssières
Isabelle Grechi
Anaïs Chailleux
Karamoko Diarra
spellingShingle Lamine Diamé
Jean-Yves Rey
Jean-François Vayssières
Isabelle Grechi
Anaïs Chailleux
Karamoko Diarra
Ants: Major Functional Elements in Fruit Agro-Ecosystems and Biological Control Agents
Sustainability
Oecophylla sp.
mango tree
Citrus
agroecosystem services
author_facet Lamine Diamé
Jean-Yves Rey
Jean-François Vayssières
Isabelle Grechi
Anaïs Chailleux
Karamoko Diarra
author_sort Lamine Diamé
title Ants: Major Functional Elements in Fruit Agro-Ecosystems and Biological Control Agents
title_short Ants: Major Functional Elements in Fruit Agro-Ecosystems and Biological Control Agents
title_full Ants: Major Functional Elements in Fruit Agro-Ecosystems and Biological Control Agents
title_fullStr Ants: Major Functional Elements in Fruit Agro-Ecosystems and Biological Control Agents
title_full_unstemmed Ants: Major Functional Elements in Fruit Agro-Ecosystems and Biological Control Agents
title_sort ants: major functional elements in fruit agro-ecosystems and biological control agents
publisher MDPI AG
series Sustainability
issn 2071-1050
publishDate 2017-12-01
description Ants are a very diverse taxonomic group. They display remarkable social organization that has enabled them to be ubiquitous throughout the world. They make up approximately 10% of the world’s animal biomass. Ants provide ecosystem services in agrosystems by playing a major role in plant pollination, soil bioturbation, bioindication, and the regulation of crop-damaging insects. Over recent decades, there have been numerous studies in ant ecology and the focus on tree cropping systems has given added importance to ant ecology knowledge. The only missing point in this knowledge is the reasons underlying difference between the positive and negative effects of ants in tree cropping systems. This review article provides an overview of knowledge of the roles played by ants in orchards as functional elements, and on the potential of Oecophylla weaver ants as biological control agents. It also shows the potential and relevance of using ants as an agro-ecological diagnosis tool in orchards. Lastly, it demonstrates the potential elements which may determine the divergent negative and positive of their effects on cropping systems.
topic Oecophylla sp.
mango tree
Citrus
agroecosystem services
url https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/1/23
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