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Related Concept Videos

Symbiosis00:58

Symbiosis

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Symbiotic relationships are long-term, close interactions between individuals of different species that affect the distribution and abundance of those species. When a relationship is beneficial to both species, this is called mutualism. When the relationship is beneficial to one species but neither beneficial nor harmful to the other species, this is called commensalism. When one organism is harmed to benefit another, the relationship is known as parasitism. These types of relationships often...
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Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores02:40

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Plants often form mutualistic relationships with soil-dwelling fungi or bacteria to enhance their roots’ nutrient uptake ability. Root-colonizing fungi (e.g., mycorrhizae) increase a plant’s root surface area, which promotes nutrient absorption. While root-colonizing, nitrogen-fixing bacteria (e.g., rhizobia) convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3), making nitrogen available to plants for various biological functions. For example, nitrogen is essential for the...
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Plants have the impressive ability to create their own food through photosynthesis. However, plants often require assistance from organisms in the soil to acquire the nutrients they need to function correctly. Both bacteria and fungi have evolved symbiotic relationships with plants that help the species to thrive in a wide variety of environments.
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Environmental Applications of Microorganisms01:30

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Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...
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Microorganisms play a crucial role in agriculture and the food industry, contributing to soil fertility, crop protection, and food production. Their functions range from nitrogen fixation and biopesticide production to fermentation and food preservation, making them indispensable to sustainable farming and food safety.Role in AgricultureNitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as Rhizobium (symbiotic) and Azotobacter (free-living), convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia through biological nitrogen...
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Organisms exhibit remarkable metabolic diversity, categorized based on how they acquire energy and carbon. These strategies enable survival in various ecological niches and are essential for maintaining energy flow and nutrient cycling within ecosystems.Energy and Carbon SourcesOrganisms are classified as phototrophs or chemotrophs based on energy acquisition. Phototrophs use light as their energy source, while chemotrophs rely on oxidizing chemical compounds. Further differentiation arises...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Microbiota of Attine Ants' Gardens: Visualizing a Microbial Landscape by Scanning Electron Microscopy
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Microbiota of Attine Ants' Gardens: Visualizing a Microbial Landscape by Scanning Electron Microscopy

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Symbioses among ants and microbes.

Corrie S Moreau1

  • 1Cornell University, Departments of Entomology and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, 129 Garden Avenue, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA.

Current Opinion in Insect Science
|February 21, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Ants engage in diverse symbiotic relationships with microbes, impacting their health and nutrient cycling. Understanding these microbial communities is crucial, especially in ants with extreme diets.

Area of Science:

  • Microbial Ecology
  • Myrmecology (Ant Biology)

Background:

  • Symbiosis between microbes and eukaryotic hosts is a fundamental aspect of multicellular evolution.
  • Ants (over 13,000 species) exhibit diverse symbiotic interactions with various microbes, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and microbial eukaryotes.
  • These ant-microbe relationships range from mutualistic to parasitic, with some involving host behavior manipulation and nutrient contributions like nitrogen recycling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the breadth and depth of symbiotic relationships between ants and microbes.
  • To highlight the functional roles of gut-associated microbes in ants, including nutrient cycling and farming.
  • To investigate the correlation between extreme diets and the diversity of gut microbial communities in ants.

Main Methods:

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  • Review of existing scientific literature on ant-microbe symbiosis.
  • Analysis of reported instances of mutualistic, parasitic, and manipulative interactions.
  • Examination of nutrient contributions and microbial farming within ant colonies.

    • Main Results:

    • Ants host a wide array of microbial symbionts, but these symbioses are not universal across all species.
    • Ants with extreme diets are more likely to harbor diverse and potentially functional gut microbial communities.
    • Gut microbes contribute to nutrient cycling (e.g., nitrogen recycling) and can be 'farmed' by ants for food.

    Conclusions:

    • Microbial-ant symbioses are widespread but not ubiquitous, spanning diverse microbial groups and interaction types.
    • The functional significance of gut microbiomes in ants is increasingly recognized, particularly in relation to diet and nutrient acquisition.
    • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex and often poorly understood interactions between ants and their microbial partners.