Results
Over two months we quantified 1,427 ants from 15 different species found
on 988 branches, 1,109 predators from nine morphospecies (spider species
were grouped as a single morphospecies), 629 free-feeding herbivore
insects from 41 morphospecies, and 22,564 terminal buds occupied by
aphids. We quantified 1,346 hatched galls, and 1,260 live galls of the
galler Baccharopelma dracunculifoliae (Sternorrhyncha:
Psyllidae), of which 522 live galls were collected and dissected. We
also collected and dissected 92 live galls of the gallerRachiptera limbata Bigot (Diptera: Tephritidae). The effects
identified are portrayed in an effect network showing pairwise trophic
and non-trophic interactions, density effects, as well as HOIs (Table 1,
Fig. 2). From a total of 29 links in our network (Table 1, Fig. 2) there
were ten node modulation links - five trophic and two non-trophic direct
interactions, and three density effects; 12 three-way links (interaction
modification), and five four-way links (modification of an interaction
modification). For the sake of simplicity, the results of the
statistical tests for each link in the network are shown in Table 2.