The attine ant is entirely dependent on multiple microbial species for its source of food. What microbial species are involved and what is their role in this multi-partner symbiosis?
What will be an ideal response?
Answer: Attine ants purposefully cultivate fungi gardens, where a particular species of fungus degrades small leaves and provides a food source for the ants. However, there is a parasitic fungus present that inhibits the garden fungus. An Actinobacteria species forms a second mutualistic relationship with the attine ant. The Actinobacteria grows on the surface of the ant and secretes an antifungal compound that inhibits that parasitic fungus, thus protecting the garden fungus from the parasite. Yet another microbial partner, a black yeast, also grows on the ants body and inhibits the actinobacterium's antifungal production.
You might also like to view...
Vascular plants store most carbohydrate reserves as:
A. glycogen. B. starch. C. sucrose. D. glucose. E. lipids.
The predominant cell type in connective tissue is the ____, which secretes components of the _____
a. neuroglia; nerve fiber sheath b. fibroblast; extracellular matrix c. cartilage; extracellular matrix d. melanocytes; melanin e. bone; skeleton
Which of the following is NOT true of adult
cell cloning? a. It involves differentiated cells. b. It occurs with some frequency in nature. c. It involves rewinding the developmental clock. d. It involves an egg cell that has had its nucleus removed. e. It may involve nuclear transfer
Cephalopods are the only mollusks that have a closed circulatory system
Indicate whether the statement is true or false