Data from: An ant–plant mutualism through the lens of cGMP-dependent kinase genes

In plant–animal mutualisms, how an animal forages often determines how
much benefit its plant partner receives. In many animals, foraging
behaviour changes in response to foraging gene expression or activation of
the cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) that foraging encodes. Here, we
show that this highly conserved molecular mechanism affects the outcome of
a plant–animal mutualism. We studied the two PKG genes of Allomerus
octoarticulatus, an Amazonian ant that defends the ant–plant Cordia nodosa
against herbivores. Some ant colonies are better ‘bodyguards’ than others.
Working in the field in Peru, we found that colonies fed with a PKG
activator recruited more workers to attack herbivores than control
colonies. This resulted in less herbivore damage. PKG gene expression in
ant workers correlated with whether an ant colony discovered an herbivore
and how much damage herbivores inflicted on leaves in a complex way;
natural variation in expression levels of the two genes had significant
interaction effects on ant behaviour and herbivory. Our results suggest a
molecular basis for ant protection of plants in this mutualism.