How the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs made ants into farmers
Oct 22, 2024
16:26
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Ted Schultz, a curator of ants at the Smithsonian, shares his insights into the fascinating world of fungus-farming ants. He discusses how these ants cultivate fungi much like humans farm crops, creating a symbiotic relationship that dates back to the catastrophic asteroid impact 66 million years ago. Schultz explains their complex farming techniques, including the challenges they face and their evolutionary strategies. This captivating conversation sheds light on the intertwined histories of both ants and human agricultural practices.
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Quick takeaways
Ants demonstrate advanced agricultural techniques reminiscent of humans, managing fungi gardens through cultivation, weeding, and antibiotic application for sustainability.
The evolutionary origins of fungus-farming ants are linked to the asteroid impact 66 million years ago, which fostered their mutually beneficial relationship with fungi.
Deep dives
The Agricultural Practices of Ants
Ants engage in complex agricultural practices that are surprisingly advanced, mirroring aspects of human farming. They not only cultivate fungi by planting and harvesting it but also manage their gardens by patrolling, weeding, and applying antibiotics from bacteria found on their bodies. These processes are essential for maintaining the health of their gardens and ensuring a steady food supply for their colonies. In a way similar to humans preserving seeds for future crops, ants provide their daughter queens with a portion of the fungus garden when they establish new nests, showcasing a remarkable strategy for continuity and sustainability.
The Evolution of Ants and Fungi
The evolutionary history of fungus-farming ants is intertwined with key planetary events, particularly the asteroid impact that occurred 66 million years ago. This catastrophe led to a dramatic increase in dead organic matter, providing an abundant resource for both ants and fungi, allowing them to form a mutually beneficial relationship that thrived in the new conditions. Researchers utilized genetic data to construct family trees and trace the origins of both ants and fungi back to this significant moment, providing insights into their long-standing co-evolution. Notably, the evidence suggests that both organisms began their agricultural practices at this critical juncture in Earth’s history.
Adaptations and Domestication in Ant Culture
Ants have demonstrated remarkable adaptability in their agricultural practices, particularly following the terminal Eocene event around 27 million years ago, which resulted in new habitat conditions. As the environments shifted from wet tropical forests to drier landscapes, some ant species evolved to cultivate fungi that became increasingly dependent on their ant farmers for survival. This domestication process mirrors human agricultural practices where species become reliant on humans to thrive. The relationship highlights the intricate balance between cultivation and environmental adaptation, as well as the potential insights it offers for improving human agricultural systems in a changing climate.
Madeleine Finlay hears from Ted Schultz, curator of ants at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, about his recent study into the origins of fungi farming in ants. He tells Madeleine about the incredibly complex way that ants cultivate and protect their fungi gardens, and how the asteroid that hit Earth 66 million years ago could have kickstarted it all. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
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