Five species of ants can be found on aspen sunflowers (Helianthella quinquenervis), which live in wet mountain meadows of the Rocky Mountains. The aspen sunflowers provide nectar to the ants in special structures called extrafloral nectaries. The ants, in turn, protect the sunflowers from other insects. The ants, however, are not found solely on the sunflowers-they can be found tending aphids on other flower species and collecting nectar from other species as well. This, then, is an example of a(n):

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This is an example of facultative mutualism because the ants and sunflowers are not completely dependent on each other for survival - the ants can still find food and protect other plants without the sunflowers, and the sunflowers can still survive without the ants, although they may be more vulnerable to other insects without their protection.

Five Species of Ants Can Be Found on Aspen Sunflowers