When Ants Depend on Plants and Plants Depend on Ants

Plants use many strategies to defend themselves against animals that eat plants, also called herbivores. One clever way some myrmecophytes, do this is by teaming up with ants. Myrmecophytes are plants have evolved close relationships In return for protection from herbivores, myrmecophytes provide ants food and/or shelter. Sounds like a great deal, right? Yes, but sometimes working can be tricky plant. Because cannot choose the ant bodyguards they get, must balance their needs of defenders. article, we introduce classic example beneficial ants, describe how and in these depend on each other, investigate ant-dependent interact various species.