Hello, fellow gardeners! We all know about ants herding and tending aphids for their nectar. This work demonstrates that ants actively cultivate a supportive, growth-friendly ecosystem for six different species of epiphytic plants in Fiji. The ants manage the growing conditions, disperse the cultivated plants' seeds, and pollinate their flowers. The ants then eat the fruits from their gardens.
Pretty remarkable considering that H. sapiens only mastered the technique about 13,000 years ago!
Ants farming plants Sacha Vignieri Science 11/25/16
Mutualistic
interactions between ants and plants are relatively common, most often
occurring in plants that produce specific structures for ant occupation.
A relationship that more closely approximates farming occurs between
ants and fungi, in which ants actively create growing conditions for and
propagate the fungal partner. Chomicki and Renner now describe a system
in Fiji in which ants in the genus Philidris conduct such gardening
activities in six different species of epiphytic plants, often
simultaneously. Specifically, they not only manage growing conditions
but also disperse and plant seeds and pollinate flowers. This more
intensive management helps to ensure reestablishment of plants that
provide fruits and resources to the ants and that might otherwise be
harder to come by. Nat. Plants 10.1038/nplants.2016.181 (2016).
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| Tillies Living Free and in the Wild, MRobb, 2014 |
Some of my Tillies only do well if they are outside attracting ants. Some do well inside, but only start to pup if they are outside, full of ants! Are the ants bringing them needed nutrition, or are those tickly little feet a signal that it's time to start reproducing? I'd sure like to know, and I'd like to know what that swarm of black ants was doing near my living room window yesterday....
C. Addams from Monster Rally: "Goodness, Murray, it wouldn't be a picnic without ants!"
Have a wonderful weekend walkabout, and be careful what, or who, you step on!
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