| Autor: |
Midgley, Jeremy, Altayeb, Huyam, Mbosso, Patrick |
| Předmět: |
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| Zdroj: |
African Journal of Range & Forage Science; Jun2016, Vol. 33 Issue 2, p127-129, 3p |
| Abstrakt: |
Pseudo-galls of three East African acacia (Vachellia) species were compared to determine the correlates of gall colour and their potential defensive functions. Although all three species produce white thorns, the pseudo-galls ofV. gerrardiiandV. drepanolobiumare dark coloured. In contrast, pseudo-galls ofV. seyalvar.fistulaare white. Associated with this, they are thin-walled and poorly used by aggressive mutualistic ants. We suggest that this weak functionality is compensated for by the highly visible white colour. This aposematism may also involve mimicry as only thefistulavariety ofV. seyalhas galls and only this variety co-occurs with otherVachelliaspecies that have functional galls.Vachellia seyal seyaldoes not have pseudo-galls and this variety does not occur with otherVachelliaspecies that have pseudo-galls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Databáze: |
Complementary Index |
| Externí odkaz: |
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