From Plants to Ants: Fungal Modification of Leaf Lipids for Nutrition and Communication in the Leaf-Cutter Ant Fungal Garden Ecosystem Journal Articles uri icon

  •  
  • Overview
  •  
  • Research
  •  
  • Identity
  •  
  • Additional Document Info
  •  
  • View All
  •  

abstract

  • In this work, we examined the role of lipids in the mutualism between leaf-cutter ants and fungus. These ants cut fresh leaf material, which they provide to their fungal cultivar, that converts energy and nutrients from the plants and provides it to the ants in specialized hyphal swellings called gongylidia.

authors

  • Khadempour, Lily
  • Kyle, Jennifer E
  • Webb-Robertson, Bobbie-Jo M
  • Nicora, Carrie D
  • Smith, Francesca B
  • Smith, Richard D
  • Lipton, Mary S
  • Currie, Cameron
  • Baker, Erin S
  • Burnum-Johnson, Kristin E

publication date

  • April 27, 2021