Induced Response by Pheidole Bicornis Ants to the Threat of Herbivore Damage

Herbivore damage on the Piper ant- plant has been shown to cause negative effects on the growth rate and reproduction in the Piper species. The experiment was designed to analyze ants responses to damage on the Piper ant-plant leaves.  We hypothesize that Pheidole bicornis ants will exhibit induced responses to the threat of herbivore damage.  This experiment was conduct at the Las Cruces Biological Station primary forest Costa Rica from June 2012 to July 2012. Sixty plants were randomly selected and placed in one of the five treatments: (a) punching ten holes on the surface of the leaf using a hole puncher (b) rubbing a crushed leaf of another P.fimbriumaltum to determine whether chemical cues influence ant behavior (c) observing the movement of the leaf by tapping the surface of the leaf ten times with a pencil (d) and a non manipulated treatment (e) rubbing a cotton ball on the surface of the leaf.  Results indicated no statistical differences between treatment groups, indicating that Pheidole bicornis do not exhibit induced response to herbivore damage. The importance of this research is to enhance the understanding of the symbiotic relationship between ants, herbivores and the Piper ant-plant.