'Pseudomyrmex triplarinus' inhabit the American Triplaris tree.
Survival in
the depths of the rainforest not only depends on the ability of species to
defend themselves. You can also rely on a particular type of cooperation
between animals and plants. In Peru, a species of ants use chemical signals on
their host tree to distinguish it from competing plant species.
Once a
competing plant is recognized the ants to defend his anfitrión.Las pruned tree
plants where ant lives Pseudomyrmex triplarinus grow in the Peruvian
rainforest. As published in the journal Biotropica , researchers at Colorado
State University (USA) have shown how they have evolved in relation to the tree
simbiótoca American Triplaris, receiving shelter and sustenance in return for
defense.
"Ants
live in the grooves of the tree and fight fiercely with any invaders, including
other plants, but had not yet been well studied how are you its host ants
differ from other plants," explains the head of the investigation, Tiffany
Weir. "We found that ants distinguish between their host trees and
invasive species through recognition of surface resin plant," he adds.
In the
Tambopata National Reserve, Weir and Dr. Jorge Vivanco expert used an ingenious
set of experiments to test how ants living in the branches of T. americana
recognize specific chemical signals from this strain from the surface of the
leaves.
Collected
several types of herbs and ferns and replanted a few trees around villages T.
American ants. The team recorded after the pruning and feeding behavior of the
animals for five weeks. The leaves of trees are also other varieties, they
stuck. Daily records revealed that most of the leaves were not a T. americana
were cut and removed by the ants.
Even with
artificial materials, ants followed the same pattern. They placed a filter
paper impregnated resins T. americana and a close relative, the poeppigiana
Triplaris. For insects attacked much more aggressive role that seemed to come
from a poeppigiana T.. This shows you high degree of specialization of the
chemical signal and the ability to differentiate Ant.
Sumber : Planetatierra