Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Threats to Biodiversity01:50

Threats to Biodiversity

23.8K
There have been five major extinction events throughout geological history, resulting in the elimination of biodiversity, followed by a rebound of species that adapted to the new conditions. In the current geological epoch, the Holocene, there is a sixth extinction event in progress. This mass extinction has been attributed to human activities and is thus provisionally called the Anthropocene. In 2019 the human population reached 7.7 billion people and is projected to comprise 10 billion by...
23.8K
Biodiversity and Human Values01:24

Biodiversity and Human Values

14.3K
Human civilization relies on biodiversity in many ways. Sudden changes in species biodiversity result in environmental changes that can modify weather patterns and therefore human civilizations.
14.3K
The Evidence for Evolution02:55

The Evidence for Evolution

45.2K
Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.
45.2K
What is Biodiversity?01:19

What is Biodiversity?

29.0K
Biodiversity describes the variety of living things at multiple organizational levels: genetic, species and ecosystem diversity. Species diversity includes all branches of the evolutionary tree from single-celled prokaryotic organisms, bacteria, and archaea, to the eukaryotic kingdoms: plants; animals; fungi; and protists. To date, there have been about 1.75 million species identified, and new species are discovered every week.
29.0K
Pollination and Flower Structure02:40

Pollination and Flower Structure

72.7K
Flowers are the reproductive, seed-producing structures of angiosperms. Typically, flowers consist of sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels. Sepals and petals are the vegetative flower organs. Stamens and carpels are the reproductive organs.  
72.7K
Habitat Fragmentation02:31

Habitat Fragmentation

18.8K
Habitat fragmentation describes the division of a more extensive, continuous habitat into smaller, discontinuous areas. Human activities such as land conversion, as well as slower geological processes leading to changes in the physical environment, are the two leading causes of habitat fragmentation. The fragmentation process typically follows the same steps: perforation, dissection, fragmentation, shrinkage, and attrition.
18.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Atomic-resolution imaging of gold species at organic liquid-solid interfaces.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same author

Evolutionary basis of male same-sex sexual behavior by multiple pheromone switches in Drosophila.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same author

Tolerance toward foreigners in ants requires chronic exposure for establishment but only sporadic exposure for maintenance.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same author

Contribution of Mg-templated porosity to activity and durability in Fe-N-C O<sub>2</sub> reduction catalysts.

Materials advances·2026
Same author

Symbiotic entrenchment through ecological Catch-22.

Cell·2026
Same author

Type I interferon endotypes drive divergent clinical trajectories in childhood-onset SLE uncovered through a novel systems immunology approach.

Annals of the rheumatic diseases·2026
Same journal

Pitch selectivity in ferret auditory cortex.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

A cell size-dependent competition between geometry and polarity governs nuclear and spindle positioning in early embryos.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Trophic cascades drive sustainability in the agricultural heritage rice-fish coculture system.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Tracking Satb2-positive retinal ganglion cells in zebrafish unveils developmental functional reorganization.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

RhoGAP54D promotes cell size asymmetry and inhibits pulsatile myosin activity in Drosophila neural stem cells.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Increased rates of hybridization in swordtails are associated with water pollution.

Current biology : CB·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 17, 2025

Collection and Long-Term Maintenance of Leaf-Cutting Ants Atta in Laboratory Conditions
10:11

Collection and Long-Term Maintenance of Leaf-Cutting Ants Atta in Laboratory Conditions

Published on: August 30, 2022

3.0K

How ants shape biodiversity.

Joseph Parker1, Daniel J C Kronauer2

  • 1Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.

Current Biology : CB
|October 12, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Ants significantly shape terrestrial biodiversity through their diverse ecological interactions, acting as keystone species. Their collective pressure creates a selective filter, influencing which species survive and thrive in various habitats.

More Related Videos

Microbiota of Attine Ants' Gardens: Visualizing a Microbial Landscape by Scanning Electron Microscopy
07:00

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

Published on: October 4, 2024

788
A Visual Guide for Studying Behavioral Defenses to Pathogen Attacks in Leaf-Cutting Ants
08:10

A Visual Guide for Studying Behavioral Defenses to Pathogen Attacks in Leaf-Cutting Ants

Published on: October 12, 2018

11.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 17, 2025

Collection and Long-Term Maintenance of Leaf-Cutting Ants Atta in Laboratory Conditions
10:11

Collection and Long-Term Maintenance of Leaf-Cutting Ants Atta in Laboratory Conditions

Published on: August 30, 2022

3.0K
Microbiota of Attine Ants' Gardens: Visualizing a Microbial Landscape by Scanning Electron Microscopy
07:00

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

Published on: October 4, 2024

788
A Visual Guide for Studying Behavioral Defenses to Pathogen Attacks in Leaf-Cutting Ants
08:10

A Visual Guide for Studying Behavioral Defenses to Pathogen Attacks in Leaf-Cutting Ants

Published on: October 12, 2018

11.5K

Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Zoology

Background:

  • Ants are highly influential across terrestrial ecosystems, engaging in diverse interactions with other organisms.
  • These interactions range from mutualisms to parasitism, highlighting ants' complex ecological roles.
  • Ants function as keystone taxa, supporting numerous species directly or indirectly.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the profound impact of ants on shaping global biodiversity.
  • To understand the evolutionary "ant-shaped selective filter" imposed by ants on terrestrial life.
  • To examine the consequences of human activities on ant populations and their ecological roles.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on ant ecology and evolutionary impacts.
  • Analysis of ecological interactions between ants and other biota (animals, plants, fungi, microbes).
  • Synthesis of evidence for ants as selective forces in community assembly.

Main Results:

  • Ants' collective ecological pressure acts as a significant driver of survivorship bias in terrestrial environments.
  • Ants have profoundly influenced the composition and structure of ecological communities.
  • Human impacts on ants have severe, often devastating, consequences for biodiversity.

Conclusions:

  • Ants are critical architects of biodiversity, having shaped life on land through evolutionary pressures.
  • Understanding ant ecology is essential for comprehending terrestrial community dynamics.
  • Conservation efforts for ants are crucial for maintaining ecosystem health and biodiversity.