Microhabitat Variation in Feeding Places Shape Ant‐Hemiptera Interactions Within Cocoa Agroecosystems
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT Ant–hemiptera mutualisms are pivotal in tropical ecosystems, yet how these interactions respond to fine‐scale microhabitat variation and management remains poorly understood. We investigated ant–hemiptera interactions across feeding microhabitats (flowers, leaves, pods) and contrasting management systems in Brazilian cocoa farms, comparing traditional agroforestry (“Cabruca,” which retains much of the native shade) with intensified systems (“Total Suppressed,” where native vegetation is removed). Across 934 interactions, leaves and pods supported larger and richer networks than flowers. Although Total Suppressed systems showed higher interaction frequency, network structural metrics such as nestedness and modularity remained stable across microhabitats and management types. This stability appears to be driven by dominant generalist ants acting as structural buffers. Core ant species were widely shared among plant structures, whereas core hemipteran species varied markedly across microhabitats, indicating ecological partitioning. In addition, interaction beta diversity was mainly driven by rewiring among persistent species rather than species turnover. Overall, while hemipterans respond to fine‐scale microhabitat heterogeneity, dominant ants maintain network cohesion through behavioral plasticity, highlighting the resilience of mutualistic networks in cocoa agroecosystems.
Source: Biotropica
DOI: 10.1111/btp.70209
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Life on land, Zero hunger
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,630
OpenAlex ID: W7160780921