Relationship provides nutrients, housing, protection: bull horn acacia and acacia ants

1 of 2 Acacia drepanolobium with ant gall / Vince Smith / License

Bull horn acacias provide nutrients and housing for acacia ants in return for protection from herbivores thanks to a mutualistic relationship.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Maintain community >
	Cooperate and compete >
	Between different species

Biomimetic Application Ideas

An example of mutualism to foster cooperation and collaboration

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Some types of acacia trees have evolved special structures to support acacia ant colonies…The orange bodies on the tips of new leaflets are used only to feed the ants. The trees also excrete nectar for ant food and have swollen hollow thorns that can be used for nest sites. In return, the ants, which are equipped with powerful stingers, attack caterpillars and deer and any other animals that try to eat the acacia leaves.

"Some ant-plant partnerships are so strong that the ants live their entire lives within one kind of tree. Bulls horn acacia trees have large hollow thorns that are occupied by skinny, rust-coloured acacia ants. The trees produce not only nectar but also special oil- and protein-rich nodules on their young leaf tips. These provide all the nutrition the ant colony will ever need. To allow the tree better growing opportunities, the ants even trim away weeds from its base." (Forsyth 1992:52)

About the inspiring organism

Acacia drepanolobium
Acacia drepanolobium Sjostedt
[Whistling thorn]

Some organism data provided by: ILDIS World Database of Legumes
Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: An example of mutualism to foster cooperation and collaboration.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Management

Experts

The Palmer Lab
Todd M. Palmer
Department of Zoology, University of Florida

References

Forsyth, A. 1992. Exploring the World of Insects: The Equinox Guide to Insect Behaviour. Camden House.

Palmer, TM; Brody, AK. 2007. Mutualism as reciprocal exploitatin: African plant-ants defend foliar but not reproductive structures. Ecology. 88(12): 3004-3011.

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