Tropical leafcutter ants collect leaf cuttings which they transport to special underground chambers. There, they chew the leaves to create nursery beds on which they grow a species of fungus they use for food. When ant queens disperse to establish new colonies, they carry the fungus with them, dispersing it as well (this benefits the fungus). In the ants' nest, the fungus is at risk of being destroyed by another fungal species that is able to grow in the same habitat, using the same limited resources. On their bodies, the ants carry and provide a home for bacteria that produce antibiotics the ants use to kill this second fungus and thereby protect their food supply. In this system, the relationship between the leafcutter ants and their fungal food species is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is a mutualistic relationship as both the leafcutter ants and the fungus benefit from each other's presence. The ants feed on the fungus, and the fungus depends on the ants for its dispersal and protection from other fungal species. The bacteria carried by the ants also benefit from living in the ant colony.

Tropical Leafcutter Ants Collect Leaf Cuttings Which They Transport to Special