Symbiosis inside the Colony
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The 3 brochure series: “The W
orld of the Zompopas” offers a
The 3 brochure series: “The W
orld of the Zompopas” offers a
The 3 brochure series: “The W
orld of the Zompopas” offers a
The 3 brochure series: “The W
orld of the Zompopas” offers a
summ
arized
version of the even
ts and interactions that take
summ
arized
version of the even
ts and interactions that take
summ
arized
version of the even
ts and interactions that take
summ
arized
version of the even
ts and interactions that take
place inside and outside of the colonies of these
fascinating
place inside and outside of the colonies of these
fascinating
place inside and outside of the colonies of these
fascinating
place inside and outside of the colonies of these
fascinating
ants, which belong to the Genus Atta and Acromyrmex
ants, which belong to the Genus Atta and Acromyrmex
ants, which belong to the Genus Atta and Acromyrmex
ants, which belong to the Genus Atta and Acromyrmex
T H E W O R L D O F
T H E Z O M P O P A S
Learn more at:
www.zompopas.comwww.zompopas.comwww.zompopas.comwww.zompopas.com
Brochure 3Brochure 3Brochure 3Brochure 3
---- Symbiosis inside the colonySymbiosis inside the colonySymbiosis inside the colonySymbiosis inside the colony----
Elaborated by :Elaborated by :Elaborated by :Elaborated by :
Ibrahim Zúñiga Chaves, Adrián Pinto TomasIbrahim Zúñiga Chaves, Adrián Pinto TomasIbrahim Zúñiga Chaves, Adrián Pinto TomasIbrahim Zúñiga Chaves, Adrián Pinto Tomas
Universidad de Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa Rica
Translaled by:Translaled by:Translaled by:Translaled by:
José GuevaraJosé GuevaraJosé GuevaraJosé Guevara
Universidad de Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa Rica
Made possible thanks to the award: Made possible thanks to the award: Made possible thanks to the award: Made possible thanks to the award:
“Aportes a la Calidad y la Excelencia”, “Aportes a la Calidad y la Excelencia”, “Aportes a la Calidad y la Excelencia”, “Aportes a la Calidad y la Excelencia”,
from Florida Ice and Farm Co.from Florida Ice and Farm Co.from Florida Ice and Farm Co.from Florida Ice and Farm Co.
1111 1. Alex Wild. www.alexanderwild.com
2. Dennis Castro. Universidad de Costa Rica
3. Adrián Pinto. Universidad de Costa Rica
4. Aisnlie Little
5. Rolando Moreira. Universidad de Costa Rica
6. Ibrahim Zúñiga. Universidad de Costa Rica
Photographs
S Y M B I O S I S S Y M B I O S I S S Y M B I O S I S S Y M B I O S I S I N S I D EI N S I D EI N S I D EI N S I D E
T H ET H ET H ET H E C O L O N YC O L O N YC O L O N YC O L O N Y
It has been 100 years since scientists It has been 100 years since scientists It has been 100 years since scientists It has been 100 years since scientists
discovered the interaction between zom-discovered the interaction between zom-discovered the interaction between zom-discovered the interaction between zom-
popas and the fungus they feed on. popas and the fungus they feed on. popas and the fungus they feed on. popas and the fungus they feed on.
However, in recent years it has been dis-However, in recent years it has been dis-However, in recent years it has been dis-However, in recent years it has been dis-
covered that the ecological success of covered that the ecological success of covered that the ecological success of covered that the ecological success of
these ants is based on their ability to es-these ants is based on their ability to es-these ants is based on their ability to es-these ants is based on their ability to es-
tablish symbiotic relationships with other tablish symbiotic relationships with other tablish symbiotic relationships with other tablish symbiotic relationships with other
organisms, gaining protection and nu-organisms, gaining protection and nu-organisms, gaining protection and nu-organisms, gaining protection and nu-
trients.trients.trients.trients.
1111 The mutualistic relationship between the cultiva-
ted fungus and the ants dates back approximate-
ly 10 million years ago. Nowdays, none is capable
of surviving without the other. Ants benefit by
getting food, and the fungus receives protection,
mechanism of dispersion and also feeding from
plant fragments. For many years it was thought
that only the symbiotic fungus grew in the gar-
dens. Today we know that there are various mi-
croorganisms, some beneficial , others harmful.
2222 Like what occurs with our crops, which are attac-
ked by pests, the ants cultivated fungus is also
attacked by a parasite which destroys it and ab-
sorbs the nutrients released when dead. This pa-
rasite, called Escovopsis, it’s a highly virulent and
specific microscopic fungus, because it has been
found associated with zompopa colonies. A suc-
cessful Escovopsis infection can destroy the fun-
gus garden, just like in this image
3333 Because of the constant threat Escovopsis pos-
ses ants have developed various defense mecha-
nisms. The most important in this category is the
mutualistic relationship with bacteria from the
order Actinomycetales. These produce antibiotics
against Escovopsis and other parasites that
might attack the fungus. The bacteria grow on the
body of the ants,
which provides nu-
trients and an opti-
mum environment
for its development.
For instance in the
genus Acromyrmex
bacteria can be
seen covering the
body of an ant
4444 The fungus garden is colonized by other bacteria
which are beneficial in the process of nutrient
obtaining. Some fixate nitrogen, meaning that
they are capable of obtaining this valuable nu-
trient from the air and deposit it into the fungus
garden, in such a way that the ants can use it.
Others are cellulose degrading, which means
that allow the colony to process great quantities
of plant material and turn it into energy.
5 5 5 5 Symbiosis between zompopas and microorganismSymbiosis between zompopas and microorganismSymbiosis between zompopas and microorganismSymbiosis between zompopas and microorganism.
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