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

Author

Listed:
  • Lamine Diamé

    (Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles, Centre pour le Développement de l’Horticulture, BP 3120 Dakar, Senegal
    Département de Biologie Animale, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, BP 7925 Dakar, Senegal)

  • Jean-Yves Rey

    (Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles, Centre pour le Développement de l’Horticulture, BP 3120 Dakar, Senegal
    Centre de Coopération Internationale de Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, UPR HortSys, F-34398 Montpellier, France
    Centre de Coopération Internationale de Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, University de Montpellier, HortSys, F-34398 Montpellier, France)

  • Jean-François Vayssières

    (Centre de Coopération Internationale de Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, UPR HortSys, F-34398 Montpellier, France
    Centre de Coopération Internationale de Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, University de Montpellier, HortSys, F-34398 Montpellier, France)

  • Isabelle Grechi

    (Centre de Coopération Internationale de Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, University de Montpellier, HortSys, F-34398 Montpellier, France
    Centre de Coopération Internationale de Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, UPR HortSys, F-97455 Saint-Pierre, La Réunion, France)

  • Anaïs Chailleux

    (Centre de Coopération Internationale de Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, UPR HortSys, F-34398 Montpellier, France
    Centre de Coopération Internationale de Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, University de Montpellier, HortSys, F-34398 Montpellier, France
    Biopass, Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles—University Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar—Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, BP 2274 Dakar, Senegal)

  • Karamoko Diarra

    (Département de Biologie Animale, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, BP 7925 Dakar, Senegal)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Lamine Diamé & Jean-Yves Rey & Jean-François Vayssières & Isabelle Grechi & Anaïs Chailleux & Karamoko Diarra, 2017. "Ants: Major Functional Elements in Fruit Agro-Ecosystems and Biological Control Agents," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-18, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2017:i:1:p:23-:d:124039
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Paul Van Mele & Nguyen Thi Thu Cuc & Zuberi Seguni & Koumandian Camara & Joachim Offenberg, 2009. "Multiple sources of local knowledge: a global review of ways to reduce nuisance from the beneficial weaver ant Oecophylla," International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 8(5/6), pages 484-504.
    2. Alain Dejean & Pascal Jean Solano & Julien Ayroles & Bruno Corbara & Jérôme Orivel, 2005. "Arboreal ants build traps to capture prey," Nature, Nature, vol. 434(7036), pages 973-973, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Helen K. Liu & Chung-Chi Lin & Li-Hsin Huang & Sin-An Huang & Rong-Nan Huang, 2020. "Eradication and Control Strategies for Red Imported Fire Ants ( Solenopsis invicta ) in Taiwan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-20, May.

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