Plants Bearing Extrafloral Nectaries and the Associated Ant Community: Interhabitat Differences in the Reduction of Herbivore Damage

Field experiments, designed to imitate the role of extrafloral nectaries, demonstrate that ants attracted to sugar droplets on plants can reduce the level of herbivore damage. This protection is more effective in disturbed habitats, such as forest clearings and edges, where ant—forager abundance is high. Natural nectary—bearing plants are more abundant in these same habitats. Other forms of disturbance such as annual flooding and fire, reduce ant abundance, reduce protection levels, and alter the frequency of natural nectary plants.