In the world of ants and plant partnership, "serial Monogamy." Research had shown that this can help trees maximize their own evolutionary fitness. This means that trees that continuously are partnered with many different ant species will produce of offspring than the trees that are partnered with a single ant species will maintain lifelong associations with a single ant. According to researcher Todd Palmer (UF biology professor) “The study has broad implications because many of the world’s ecosystems rely on cooperative partnerships between species."
Palmer's team went to Africa and studied a regular tree and looked at the trees relationships with 4 different ant species over the trees lifetime up till now. What surprised the team most was that in the tree in Kenya was doing its best during the time that it was occupied by all 4 plant species even though one ant species joined "forces" with beetles causing death rates to increase.
The ants also provided useful defending the tree from elephants and other herbivores. "There are some ant species that appeared to do nothing but they all did enough" says Palmer.
Source:
"The Joy of Sets: For Ants and Trees, Multiple Partners Are a Boon." Science Daily: News & Articles in Science, Health, Environment & Technology. 26 Sept. 2010. Web. 29 Sept. 2010.
The article contained scientific facts and connections that I really enjoyed. Since you know a lot of stuffs in Africa, this must been familiar or so-so to you. It is very detailed and organized I actually liked it. I am not sure if you added the author or the bibliography of this article.
ReplyDeleteBesides that, it was very interesting.
Ya i forgot the Bibliography but I got it from the sight
ReplyDeleteScience Daily
Thanks