Ant Researchers:
- Bharti, Himender
- Borowiec, Marek L
- Brühl, Carsten
- Dias, Sriyani
- Fayle, Tom
- Fiala, Brigitte
- Herwina, Henny
- Kiran, Kadri
- Kumar, Dolly
- Lim, Grace T
- Linsenmair, K Eduard
- Menzel, Florian
- Mezger, Dirk
- Mishra, Archana
- Narendra, Ajay
- Noon-anant, Nawee
- Offenberg, Joachim
- Paknia, Omid
- Peeters, Christian
- Perera, Aneska
- Pfeiffer, Martin
- Rastogi, Neelkamal
- Rizali, Akhmad
- Robson, Simon
- Schlick-Steiner, Birgit C
- Schultz, Roland
- Schulz, Andreas
- Sharaf, Mostafa R
- Sharma, Yash P
- Steiner, Florian M
- Vakhide, Nassim
- Varghese, Thresiamma
- Watanasit, Suparoek
- Yahya, Bakhtiar E
Dr. Brigitte Fiala
Date and place of Birth:
- 29 July 1955, Fulda - Germany
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology
- Biocenter
University of Würzburg
Am Hubland
D-97074 Würzburg
- Germany
- +49 931 888 4366
- +49 931 888 4352
- tropical biology, evolutionary ecology, plant-animal interactions, ant-plant symbioses in general with special focus on taxonomy, phylogeny and ecology of Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae), Ant-interactions in Nepenthes, Arthropod communities in Malaysian rainforests along different habitat gradients
For a more detailed project description please see here
- Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia)
- Allopatric and ecological speciation in Crematogaster spp. subgenus Decacrema associated with Macaranga (in cooperation with Dr. Heike Feldhaar, Zoology II)
Ecological interactions including biotic interactions could be crucial factors driving speciation. In one of the most species-rich ant-plant symbiotic systems worldwide pioneer trees of the genus Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae) are inhabited by specific partner ants, mostly of the genus Crematogaster (subgenus Decacrema). The various types of interaction in this symbiotic complex and its considerable degree of radiation concerning both partners offer an exceptional model system for studying the processes of speciation in mutualistic systems in general. Our current results indicate that multiple speciation mechanisms work within the Decacrema ants (geographic and ecological). Therefore, this system allows us to shed light simultaneously on different speciation mechanisms. A comparison of the phylogenies of the ants with that of their Macaranga host-plants supports the view that we have no strict co-speciation but host-expansion and host-shifting is common. Nonetheless, non-random association patterns are observed and we have first indications that at least some of the Decacrema-morphospecies develop ecotypes which are specifically adapted to ""their"" host-plant species. We continue to analyse the ecological, genetic and behavioural mechanisms that lead to divergent or disruptive selection in our system, and we plan to empirically test whether these mechanisms have led to a genetic sub-structuring of populations providing the raw material for speciation.
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Merbach M, Zizka G, Fiala B, Merbach D, Booth WE Maschwitz U (2007) Why a carnivorous plant cooperates with an ant:- selective defense against pitcher-destroying weevils in the myrmecophytic pitcher plant Nepenthes bicalcarata Hook F. Ecotropica, 13, 45-56
Blüthgen N, Menzel F, Hovestadt T, Fiala B, Blüthgen N (2007) Specialization, constraints, and conflicting interests in mutualistic networks. Current Biology17, 341-346
Jürgens A, Feldhaar H, Feldmeyer B, Fiala B (2006) Chemical composition of leaf volatiles in Macaranga species (Euphorbiaceae) and their potential role as olfactory cues in host-localisation of foundress queens of specific ant partners. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 34, 97-113
Bänfer G, Moog U, Fiala B, Maryati M, Weising K, Blattner FR (2006) A chloroplast genealogy of myrmecophytic Macaranga species (Euphorbiaceae) in Southeast Asia reveals hybridization, vicariance and long-distance dispersals. Molecular Ecology 15, 4409-4424
Feldhaar H, Fiala B, Gadau J (2005) A shift in colony founding behaviour in an obligate plant-ant from single queens to foundress associations and polygynous colonies. Insectes Sociaux. 52, 22-230
Maschwitz U, Fiala B, Dumpert K (2004) An unusual myrmecophytic Macaranga association, occurring in a disjunct area in the monsoon zone of Southeast Asia: Phenology and description of the ant species. Ecotropica 10(1), 33-49
Heckroth HP, Fiala B, Malsch AKF, Rosli HB, Maschwitz U (2004) Limits of protection against non-specific insects( Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea) in myrmecophytic and non-myrmecophytic species of Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae). Entomologia Generalis 21(1), 1-13
Heckroth HP, Moog J, Janka HI, Fiala B, Chung AY, Maschwitz U (2004) Smilax borneensis, an unspecific climbing ant-plant from Borneo and myrmecophytic traits in other Asian Smilax species. Sandakania 14,33-50
Feldhaar H, Fiala B, Gadau J (2004) Characterization of microsatellite markers for plant-ants of the genus Crematogaster subgenus Decacrema. Molecular Ecology Notes 4 (3), 409-411
Bänfer G, Fiala B, Weising K (2004) AFLP analysis of phylogenetic relationships among myrmecophytic species of Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae) and their allies. Plant Systematics and Evolution. 3-4, 213 - 23
Moog J, Fiala B, Werner M, Weissflog A, Saw LG, Maschwitz U (2003) Ant-plant diversity in Peninsular Malaysia, with special reference to the Pasoh Forest Reserve. Pp. 459-494. In " Pasoh:Ecology and Natural History of a Southeast Asian Tropical Rainforest. Editors: T. Okuda, K.Niiyama and S. Thomas. Springer Verlag, Tokyo, Berlin, Heidelberg etc.
Feldhaar H, Fiala B, Gadau J, Maryati Mohamed, Maschwitz U (2003) Molecular phylogeny of Crematogaster subgenus Decacrema ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and the colonization of Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae) trees. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 27(3), 441-452
Feldhaar, H, Fiala B, Rosli b. Hashim, Maschwitz U (2003) Dynamics of the Crematogaster-Macaranga association: The ant partner makes the difference. Insectes Sociaux 50, 9-19
Fiala B & Saw, LG (2003) Ant fauna of the lower vegetation stratum in Pasoh Forest Reserve with special reference to the diversity of plants with extrafloral nectaries and associated ants. Pp. 437-458. In " Pasoh:Ecology and Natural History of a Southeast Asian Tropical Rainforest' Editors: T. Okuda, K. Niiyama and S. Thomas, Springer Verlag, Tokyo, Berlin, Heidelberg etc.
Heil M, Hilpert A, Fiala B, Kaiser W, Zotz G, Strohm E, Rosli b. Hashim , KE Linsenmair (2002) Nutrient allocation of Macaranga triloba ant plants to growth, photosynthesis , and indirect defense. Functional Ecology 16, 475-483
Moog U, Fiala B, Federle W, Maschwitz U (2002) Thrips pollination of the dioeceous ant-plant Macaranga hullettii (Euphorbiaceae) in Southeast Asia. American Journal of Botany 89 (1): 50-59
Merbach MA, Merbach DJ, Maschwitz U, Booth WE, Fiala B, Zizka G (2002) Mass march into the deadly trap: How the pitcher plant Nepenthes albomarginata lures its termite prey, Nature, 415, 36-37
Merbach MA, Zizka G, Fiala B, Maschwitz U, WE Booth (2001) Patterns of nectar secretion in five Nepenthes species from Brunei Darussalam, Northwest Borneo, and implications for ant-plant relationships. Flora 196, 153-160
Linsenmair KE, Davis AJ, Fiala B, Speight M (eds) (2001) Tropical Forest Canopies: Ecology and Management, Kluwer, Netherlands
Linsenmair KE, Heil M, Kaiser W, Fiala B, Koch T, Boland W (2001) Adaptations to biotic and abiotic stress: Macaranga-ant plants optimise investment in biotic defence. Journal Experimental Botany 52 (363), 2057-2065
Heil M, Fiala B, Linsenmair KE (2001) Nutrient availability, and indirect (biotic) defence in a Malaysian ant-plant. Oecologia 126, 404-408
Heil M, Fiala B, Maschwitz U, Linsenmair KE (2001) On the benefits of indirect defence: short- and long-term studies in antiherbivore protection via mutualistic ants. Oecologia 126, 395-403
Heil M, Koch T, Hilpert A, Fiala B, Boland W, Linsenmair KE (2001) Extrafloral nectar production of the ant-associated plant, Macaranga tanarius, is an induced indirect defensive response elicited by jasmonic acid, PNAS 3, 98(3), 1083-1088
Federle W, Fiala B, Zizka G, Maschwitz U (2001) Prostomata in Macaranga ant-plants: incident daylight as orientation cue for hole-boring ants. Insectes Sociaux 48, 165-177
Eck G, Fiala B, Linsenmair KE, Rosli b. Hashim, Proksch P (2001) Trade off between chemical and biotic anti-herbivore defense in the South-east-Asian plant genus Macaranga, Journal of Chemical Ecology 27 (10), 1979-1996
Blattner FR, Weising K, Bänfer G, Maschwitz U, Fiala B (2001) Molecular analysis of phylogenetic relationships among myrmecophytic Macaranga species (Euphorbiaceae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 19 (3), 331-344
Heil M, Fiala B, Baumann B, Linsenmair KE (2000) Complex patterns of extrafloral nectar secretion in Macaranga tanarius are caused by different biotic and abiotic factors. Functional Ecology 14, 749-757
Feldhaar H, Fiala B, Rosli bin Hashim, Maschwitz U (2000) How to maintain an ant-plant symbiosis: Secondary polygyny in the Macaranga triloba -Crematogaster sp. association. Naturwissenschaften, 87, 408-411
Rabenstein R, Liefke C, Maschwitz U, Fiala B, Rosli bin Hashim (1999): Ants like it sweet - Plant based food resources of the ant Polyrhachis olybria. - Malaysian Naturalist 52(4), 5-9
Merbach MA, Zizka G, Fiala B, Merbach D, Maschwitz U, Webber Booth (1999) Giant nectaries in the peristome thorns of the pitcher plant Nepenthes bicalcarata Hook F. (Nepenthaceae): Anatomy and functional aspects. Ecotropica 5,45-50
Heckroth, HP, Fiala B, Maschwitz U. (1999) Integration of scale insects (Homoptera: Coccidae) in the South-East Asian ant-plant system Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae)-Crematogaster Formicidae).Entomologica Bari, 33, 287-295
Heil M, Fiala B, Boller T, Linsenmair KE (1999) Reduced chitinase activities in ant plants of the genus Macaranga. Naturwissenschaften 86, 146-149
Fiala B, Jakob A, Maschwitz U, Linsenmair KE (1999) Diversity, evolutionary specialisation and geographic distribution of a mutualistic ant-plant complex: Macaranga and Crematogaster in South East Asia. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 66, 305-331
Rabenstein R, Fiala B, Maschwitz U (1998) Nichtmyrmekophytische Vitaceen und ihre Besucher: Parasitismus-Kommensalismus- Mutualismus? Mitteilungen der Bundesforschungsanstalt für Forst- und Holzwirtschaft, Hamburg 190. Proceedings of the 8th Annual Congress of the German Society for Tropical Ecology, ed. H. Ellenberg, p. 144
Fiala B, Brühl C. (1998) Diversity and stratification of ants in Kinabalu Park. Tropical Ecosystem Research in Sabah, 93-100. Eds. Maryati Mohamed, Jamili Nais & Henry Bernard, University Malaysia Sabah
Federle W, Fiala B, Maschwitz U (1998) Camponotus (Colobopsis) (Mayr 1861) and Macaranga: (Thouars 1806): A specific two partner ant-plant system from Malaysia. Tropical Zoology 11: 83-94
Matthes M, Moog J, Fiala B, Werner M, Nais J, Maschwitz U(1998) The rattan palm Korthalsia robusta Bl. and its ant and aphid partners: studies on a myrmecophytic association in Kinabalu Park, Sabah. Sabah Parks Nature Journal 1: 37-50
Heil M, Fiala B, Kaiser W, Linsenmair KE (1998). Chemical contents of Macaranga food bodies: Physiological adaptations to their role in ant attraction and nutrition. Functional Ecology 12: 117-122
Heckroth HP, Fiala B, Gullan PJ, Maschwitz U, Azarae Hj. Idris (1998). The soft scale (Coccidae) associates of Malaysian ant-plants. Journal of Tropical Ecology 14: 427-443
Fiala B, Floren A, Heckroth HP, Heil M, Linsenmair KE (1998) Pflanzen als inselhafte Ressourcen und ihre Bedeutung für die Diversität tropischer Arthropoden. Bielefelder Ökologische Beiträge 12: 28. Hrg. H Dalitz, M Haverkamp, J Homeier & SW Breckle
Federle W, Maschwitz U & B Fiala (1998). The two -partner ant-plant system of Camponotus (Colobopsis) sp. 1 and Macaranga puncticulata (Formicidae: Formicinae; Euphorbicaceae): Myrmecophytic traits of the partner ant. Insectes Sociaux 45: 1-16
Heil M, Fiala B, Linsenmair KE, Zotz G, Menke P, Maschwitz U. (1997) Food body production in Macaranga triloba (Euphorbiaceae): a plant investment in anti-herbivore defence via symbiotic ant partners. Journal of Ecology 85: 847-861
Federle W, Maschwitz U, Fiala B, Riederer M & B Hölldobler (1997) Slippery ant-plants and skillful climbers: Selection and protection of the specific partner ants by epicuticular wax blooms in Macaranga (Euphor-biaceae). Oecologia 112: 217-224
Maschwitz U, Fiala B, Davies SJ, Linsenmair KE. 1996. Camponotus and Crematogaster as partners of one myrmecophyte: A new three-partner association in the genus Macaranga from Borneo (including description of Camponotus macarangae, new species by K. Dumpert). Ecotropica 2(1): 29-40
Fiala B, Maschwitz U & KE Linsenmair. 1996. Macaranga caladiifolia Beccari (Euphorbiaceae), a new type of ant-plant among SE-Asian myrmecophytic Macaranga species. Biotropica 28: 408-412
Fiala B, Jakob A, & U Maschwitz. 1996. Diversity, specificity and geographical distribution of ants inhabiting myrmecophytic Macaranga species in South-east Asia. Global Biodiversity Research in Europe, International Senckenberg-Conference Frankfurt a.M. 9.-13.12.1996, abstract volume, p. 19
Fiala B, Krebs, SA, Barlow HS & U Maschwitz U. 1996. Interactions between Thunbergia grandiflora, Dolichoderus sp. and Xylopa latipes: a mutualistic association. Malayan Nature Journal 50, 1-14.
Fiala B. 1996. Ants benefit pioneer trees: The genus Macaranga as an example of ant-plant associations in dipterocarp forest ecosystems. Pp. 102-123 in: Dipterocarp Forest Ecosystems: Towards sustainable management. Ed. A. Schulte and D. Schöne. World Scientific, Singapore, New Jersey, London, Hongkong
Boer C, Brühl C, Fiala B, Heil M, Muhammad A, Pfeiffer M & KE Linsenmair (1996) Biodiversity research in SE Asia. Global Biodiversity Research in Europe, International Senckenberg-Conference Frankfurt a.M. 9.-13.12.1996
Maschwitz U & B Fiala. 1995. Investigations on ant-plant-associations in the South-East-Asian Genus Neonauclea Merr. (Rubiaceae). Acta Oecologia, 16 (1), 3-18
Fiala B & U Maschwitz. 1995. Mutualistic associations between ants and plants in SE Asian rainforests. Wallaceana 75: 1-5
Fiala B & KE Linsenmair. 1995. Distribution and abundance of plants with extrafloral nectaries in the woody flora of a lowland primary forest in Malaysia. Biodiversity and Conservation 4, 165-182
Ooi LE, Chuah CH, Yong HS & B Fiala. 1994. Fruitfly attractants from two plant species. Proceedings 4th Eurasia Conference on Chemical Sciences, 17-20 Dec, Kuala Lumpur
Maschwitz U, Fiala B, Saw LG, Norma Rashid Y. & A Hj. Idris. 1994. Ficus obscura Bl. var. borneensis (Miq. ) Corner, a new unspecific ant-plant from Malesia. Malayan Nature Journal 47: 409-416
Maschwitz U, Fiala B & KE Linsenmair. 1994. Clerodendrum fistulosum Beccari (Verbenacae), an unspecific myrmecophyte from Borneo with spontaneously opening domatia. Blumea (Leiden), 39: 143-150
Federle W, Fiala B, Maschwitz U. & Azarae Hj. Idris. 1994. The first myrmecophytic 2-partner-system in the genus Macaranga: The association between Macaranga puncticulata and a Camponotus
Fiala B, Rabenstein R & U Maschwitz. 1994. Ant-attracting plant-structures: Food bodies of SE Asian Vitaceae. In: Les insectes sociaux. Proc. 12th IUSSI-Congress Paris, Lenoir, A, Arnold, G & M. Lepage (eds), p. 174
Fiala B, Linsenmair KE & U Maschwitz. 1994. Diversität von Ameisen-Pflanzen-Interaktionen im südostasiatischen Regenwald. Andrias Sonderband, 13: 169-178
Fiala B, Grunsky H, Maschwitz U & Linsenmair KE. 1994. Diversity of ant-plant interactions: Protective efficacy in Macaranga species with different degrees of ant-association. Oecologia 97: 186-192
Weising K & B Fiala. 1992. Botanische Eindrücke vom Bako-Nationalpark, Sarawak. Der Palmengarten 3: 153-162
Ooi KE, Chuah CH, Yong HS, Jantan I & B Fiala. 1992. 4-(p-Hydroxy-phenyl)-butan-2-one as the fruit fly attractant from Dendrobium anosanum and Murraya paniculata. P. 79-80 in Proceedings Malaysian Chemical Congress Congress 1992, Kuala Lumpur
Maschwitz U, B Fiala & KE Linsenmair. 1992. A new ant-tree from SE Asia: Zanthoxylum myriacanthum (Rutaceae), the Thorny Ivy-Rue. Malayan Nature Journal 46: 101-109
Fiala B. & U Maschwitz. 1992. Food bodies in the genus Macaranga and their significance for the evolution of myrmecophytism. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 110: 61-75
Fiala B & U Maschwitz. 1992. Domatia as most important preadaptations in the evolution of myrmecophytes in a paleotropical tree genus. Plant Systematics and Evolution 180: 53-64
Maschwitz U, Fiala B, Moog J & LG Saw. 1991. Two new myrmecophytic associations from the Malay Peninsula: ants of the genus Cladomyrma as partners of Saraca thaipingensis and Crypteronia griffithii. 1. Colony foundation and acquisition of trophobionts. Insectes Sociaux 38(1): 27-35
Chuah C.H., Ooi KE, Fiala,B., & S.H. Goh. 1992. Natural products from the genus Macaranga. P. 346-349 in Medicinal Products from Tropical Rain Forests (eds. Khozirah Shaari, Azizol Abd. Kadir & Abd. Razak Mohd. Ali), Forest Research Institute Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
Fiala, B., Maschwitz, U. & Y.P. Tho. 1991. The association between Macaranga and ants in South East Asia. In: CR Huxley & DF Cutler (eds), Interactions between ants and plants, pp. 263-270. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Fiala, B. & U. Maschwitz. 1991. Extrafloral nectaries in the genus Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae) in Malaysia: comparative studies of their possible significance as predispositions for myrmecophytism. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 44: 287-305
Fiala, B. 1991. Partnerschaften von Pflanzen und Ameisen: Ameisenbäume im malaysischen Regenwald. Biologie in unserer Zeit 5: 241-247
Weising, K., Fiala, B., Ramloch, K., Kahl, G., Epplen, J.T. 1990. Oligonucleotide fingerprinting in angiosperms. Fingerprint News 2(2): 5-7
Fiala, B. & M. Mebert. 1990. Partnerschaft für's Überleben. Ameisenbäume im tropischen Regenwald. Urania 12: 44-49
Fiala, B. & U. Maschwitz. 1990. Studies on the South East Asian ant-plant association Crematogaster borneensis/Macaranga: Adaptations of the ant partner. Insectes Sociaux 37(3): 212-231
Fiala, B. 1990. Bäume und Ameisen. Partnerschaften im südostasiatischen Regenwald. Biologie heute 381: 13-14. In: Naturwissenschaftliche Rundschau 43.J Heft 11
Fiala, B. 1990. Verschiedene Stufen der Pflanzen-Ameisen-Beziehungen am Beispiel der Gattung Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae). Der Palmengarten, Sonderheft 15: Pflanzen und Ameisen
Fiala, B. 1990. Extrafloral nectaries versus ant-Homoptera mutualisms: a comment on Becerra and Venable. Oikos 59: 281-282
Maschwitz, U., Fiala, B., Lee, Y.F., Chey, Y.K. & F. L. Tan. 1989. New and little known myrmecophytic associations from Bornean rainforests. Malayan Nature Journal 43: 106-115
Fiala B., Maschwitz U, Tho YP. & AJ Helbig. 1989. Studies of a South East Asian ant-plant association: protection of Macaranga trees by Crematogaster borneensis. Oecologia 79: 463-470
Maschwitz U., Fiala B. & WR Dolling. 1987. New trophobiotic symbioses of ants with South East Asian bugs. Journal of Natural History 21: 1097-1107
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