Twenty years ago, the savannah was covered with them. These trees provided food and shelter for native acacia ants and in turn, the ants defended the trees against animals, like elephants ...

The research focuses on the ecological interactions that happen between four native ant species and their host acacia trees in Kenya. “This work presents a new method set for studying the costs and ...

The ant acacia is a small, thorny tree found in different parts of Costa Rica. It is famous, not for its impressive thorns or its ability to thrive in harsh environmental conditions, but because of ...

we’re discussing a few species of related trees along with a few species of ants that live on those trees. So, let’s meet the ant acacia tree (and its ants). There are three species of ant acacias ...

Ants known to defend certain species of Acacia trees from elephant predation deter the massive herbivores so effectively that they are impacting entire savanna ecosystems, according to a study ...

The savanna was a woodland with extensive groups of these trees, sometimes called acacias, which were the home of native acacia ants. Those tiny ants protected the trees from elephants ...

The invading insects kill local acacia ants wherever they find them. And other studies have shown that without defending ants, pachyderms tore down the thorn trees five to seven times more often.

Native acacia ants are killed by the smaller invasive big-headed ants, leaving whistling-thorn trees defenseless against elephants. Credit: Pat Milligan When people talk about the interconnectedness ...

These thorny trees had developed a mutually beneficial relationship with the local acacia ant: The trees provide shelter and food for the ants and in return they use their stinging bite to ...

These thorny trees had developed a mutually beneficial relationship with the local acacia ant: The trees provide shelter and food for the ants and in return they use their stinging bite to ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Lions, elephants, zebras, buffalo, ants, and trees are all locked in ...

There are numerous thorn trees in tropical and semi-tropical ... In Central America, the bullhorn acacia is guarded by mutualistic ants that, in addition to living in hollowed-out swollen thorns ...