Tracing the lineages of agricultural ants to their most recent common ancestor shows that these ants likely emerged after the end-Cretaceous mass extinction, suggesting a strong link between their evolution and significant environmental changes.
The research indicates that climate changes post Eocene, particularly the drying of tropical Americas, may have driven species of ants to cultivate their own fungi, marking a critical evolution in their farming practices.
The study of ants presents a clearer picture of their agricultural origins, revealing the influence of past mass extinctions and climate changes on their adaptive strategies and interactions with fungal species.
Future research aims to uncover the genetic basis of these behavioral changes in ants and how their fungal partners have evolved to ensure mutual survival and benefit.
Collection
[
|
...
]