Leaf-cutter ants are part of a complex system of species associations. These include a(n) _______ with fungi, which they cultivate in gardens within their nests; a(n) _______ with a parasitic fungus (Escovopsis) that invades and destroys fungal gardens; and a(n) _______ with a bacterium living on the ant's body that produces a chemical that inhibits Escovopsis. These three associations are, respectively,

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Leaf-cutter ants have a mutualistic relationship with the fungi they cultivate, a host-parasite interaction with the parasitic fungus Escovopsis, and a mutualistic relationship with the bacterium that helps protect their fungal gardens.

Leaf-Cutter Ants Are Part of a Complex System of Species