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About Those Ants....
Ants play a very important role in ecosystems almost everywhere
(not in the arctic and antarctic...). They are valuable as recyclers and
pollinators. They add "entropy" to the universe! This means that they add
randomness - they help disperse things, to avoid too much order!
These army ants (the small black dots) swarm through the
rainforest, covering large areas of the forest floor. They clean the forest
floor of dead and dying insects and larger animals, but pose no serious threat
to large mammals, reptiles, and birds. |
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In fact, a number of different birds - the "ant birds" -
follow the swarms of army ants, swooping down and eating larger insects and
small reptiles stirred from their hiding places by the
swarm. |
In an incredible example of symbiosis - different
species working together for their mutual good - this acacia tree produces
small yellow protein buds on the tips of its leaves, which are the perfect food
for one specie of ants. These ants even live in the holes in the large thorns
of this tree! |
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In return, as seen in this photo, the ants will swarm out
and protect their tree against any intruder, be it a person, a grazing cow, a
hungry caterpillar, or a wandering vine. |
One study of insect species in one single rainforest tree
revealed over 100 different species of ants! This is more than in many
countries!
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Ant projects and gifts from eToys!
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