Interaction between workers during a short time window is required for bacterial symbiont transmission in Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants.
Stable associations between partners over time are critical for the evolution of mutualism. Hosts employ a variety of mechanisms to maintain specificity with bacterial associates. Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants farm a fungal cultivar as their primary nutrient source. These ants also carry a Pseudonoca...
Main Authors: | , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2014-01-01
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Series: | PLoS ONE |
Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4110003?pdf=render |