It has been suggested that trait mediated indirect interactions (TMIIs) may have strong effects on prey communities, given that modifications to predators traits may allow the release of their prey. Here we explore the effect of a TMII by an invasive ant species, W. auropunctata, on Anolis cristatellus and its impact on the consumption of the coffee leaf miner (CLM) , Leucoptera coffeella, in an experimental setting. A. cristatellus has been suggested to be a predator of the CLM which is the main coffee pest in Puerto Rico. Recent studies show that A. cristatellus avoid areas where W. auropuctata is present, this has led to the hypothesis that this invasive ant species may modify the territory of A. cristatellus via a TMII and subsequently allow for the release of the CLM population as the invasive spreads. To investigate this, we set up a laboratory experiment with four different treatments: T1= coffee plant + A. cristatellus ; T2= coffee plant + W. auropunctata; T3= Coffee plant + Anolis + W. auropunctata and T4= coffee plant (control). Coffee leaves with 20 CLMs were added to each treatment, at the end of 10 days the number CLM pupas in each treatment were recorded.
Results/Conclusions
After 13 runs of the experiment, preliminary results show a significant difference between the control treatment which had a coffee plant + CLM and the treatment with a coffee plant + a nest of W. auropunctata. Where the latter had less healthy CLM pupae than the control treatment. Although not statistically significant, the treatment with the coffee plant + A. cristatellus (T1) also had less healthy CLM pupae than the control. When having both, W. auropuctata and A. cristatellus (T3) the number of healthy CLM did not differ from the control treatment. This suggests that in the presence of both predators, A. cristatellus and W. auropunctata, their effect on the CLM is inhibited by each other. We suggest that this result comes from combined effect of a TMII where W. auropuctata alters the behavior of A. cristatellus, and due to A. cristatellus potentially preying on W. auropuctata when their densities are low. The results from this work demonstrates the potential dynamics that complex interactions such as TMIIs may play in agroecosystems and what their implications may be for herbivore regulation.