Myrmecotrophy is the ability of plants to obtain
nutrients from
ants, a form of
mutualism. Due to this behaviour the invasion of
vegetation into harsh environments is promoted.[1] The dead remains of insects thrown out by the ants are absorbed by the
lenticular warts in
myrmecophytes like Hydnophytum and Myrmecodia.[2]Myrmecodia uses its lenticular warts to suck nutrients from the insects thrown out by the ants. The ants in turn benefit with a secure location to form their colony.[1] The
pitcher plantNepenthes bicalcarata obtains an estimated 42% of its total foliar
nitrogen from ant waste.[3]
References
^
abNarendra A and Kumar S. (2006) On Trail with Ants - A Handbook of the Ants of Peninsular India p53
^Janzen DH. (1974) Epiphytic Myrmecophytes in Sarawak: Mutualism Through the Feeding of Plants by Ants. Biotropica 6, 237-259
^Bazile, V., J.A. Moran, G. Le Moguédec, D.J. Marshall & L. Gaume (2012). A carnivorous plant fed by its ant symbiont: a unique multi-faceted nutritional mutualism. PLoS ONE7(5): e36179.
doi:
10.1371/journal.pone.0036179