{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T05:02:32Z","timestamp":1787029352639,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":49,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,26]],"date-time":"2024-01-26T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1706227200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient\u00edfico e Tecnol\u00f3gico (CNPq)","award":["403647\/2021-5"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["403647\/2021-5"]}]},{"name":"Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient\u00edfico e Tecnol\u00f3gico (CNPq)","award":["88887.666322\/2022-00"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["88887.666322\/2022-00"]}]},{"name":"Coordena\u00e7\u00e3o de Aperfei\u00e7oamento de Pessoal de N\u00edvel Superior\u2014Brazil (CAPES)","award":["403647\/2021-5"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["403647\/2021-5"]}]},{"name":"Coordena\u00e7\u00e3o de Aperfei\u00e7oamento de Pessoal de N\u00edvel Superior\u2014Brazil (CAPES)","award":["88887.666322\/2022-00"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["88887.666322\/2022-00"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Plants"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Spiders, abundant and diverse arthropods which occur in vegetation, have received little attention in studies investigating spider\u2013plant interactions, especially in plants which have extrafloral nectaries (EFNs). This study examines whether spiders attracted to EFNs on the plant Heteropterys pteropetala (Malpighiaceae) function as biological protectors, mitigating leaf herbivory and positively impacting plant fitness, through manipulative experiments. Spiders are attracted to EFNs because, in addition to consuming the resource offered by these structures, they also consume the herbivores that are attracted by the nectar. At the same time, we documented the reproductive phenology of the plant studied and the abundance of spiders over time. Our results revealed that the plant\u2019s reproductive period begins in December with the emergence of flower buds and ends in April with the production of samarids, fruits which are morphologically adapted for wind dispersal, aligning with the peak abundance of spiders. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that spiders are attracted to plants that exude EFNs, resulting in a positive impact on reducing leaf area loss but with a neutral effect on protecting reproductive structures. By revealing the protective function of spiders\u2019 vegetative structures on plants, this research highlights the ecological importance of elucidating the dynamics between spiders and plants, contributing to a deeper understanding of ecosystems.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/plants13030368","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,26]],"date-time":"2024-01-26T08:56:01Z","timestamp":1706259361000},"page":"368","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":6,"title":["Spider\u2013Plant Interaction: The Role of Extrafloral Nectaries in Spider Attraction and Their Influence on Plant Herbivory and Reproduction"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Karoline P\u00e1dua","family":"de Oliveira Dias","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Postgraduation Program in Ecology, Conservation and Biodiversity, Federal University of Uberl\u00e2ndia, Uberl\u00e2ndia 38405-302, Brazil"},{"name":"Laboratory of Venomous Arthropods of the Cerrado, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Uberl\u00e2ndia, Uberl\u00e2ndia 38405-302, Brazil"},{"name":"Laboratory of Natural History and Reproduction of Arthropods (Laborat\u00f3rio de Hist\u00f3ria Natural e Reprodutiva de Artr\u00f3podes\/LHINRA), Institute of Biology, Federal University of Uberl\u00e2ndia, Uberl\u00e2ndia 38405-302, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8659-9194","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Vanessa","family":"Stefani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Postgraduation Program in Ecology, Conservation and Biodiversity, Federal University of Uberl\u00e2ndia, Uberl\u00e2ndia 38405-302, Brazil"},{"name":"Laboratory of Venomous Arthropods of the Cerrado, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Uberl\u00e2ndia, Uberl\u00e2ndia 38405-302, Brazil"},{"name":"Laboratory of Natural History and Reproduction of Arthropods (Laborat\u00f3rio de Hist\u00f3ria Natural e Reprodutiva de Artr\u00f3podes\/LHINRA), Institute of Biology, Federal University of Uberl\u00e2ndia, Uberl\u00e2ndia 38405-302, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,26]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"498","article-title":"Emergent Impacts of Ant and Spider Interactions: Herbivory Reduction in a Tropical Savanna Tree","volume":"44","author":"Nahas","year":"2012","journal-title":"Trop. 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