Science publication: Ants have been farming - for 66 million years [17.10.24]
Together with research colleagues, KomBioTa Professor Christian Rabeling publishes current results in one of the best-known scientific journals
Prof. Dr. Christian Rabeling from the University of Hohenheim in search of fungus-growing ants in Brazil. (Photo: Simone Cappellari Rabeling/private)
Ants have been growing fungi for 66 million years. This was discovered by a research team with the participation of KomBioTa professor Christian Rabeling.
This finding was made possible by gene sequencing, from which a family tree of fungi could be derived. Combined with the family tree of ants, a co-evolution lasting millions of years could be proven, in which the species influenced each other in their respective development. The specialists were also able to describe new species.
Leafcutter ants (Atta cephalotes) make characteristic circular incisions to extract the substrate for the mushroom garden. Here a worker from a colony at the University of Texas. (Photo: Alex Wild, used by permission)
Their results have now been published in the renowned journal Science.
Publication:
Ted R. Schultz, Jeffrey Sosa-Calvo, Matthew P. Kweskin, Michael W. Lloyd, Bryn Dentinger, Pepijn W. Kooij, Else C. Vellinga, Stephen A. Rehner, Andre Rodrigues, Quimi V. Montoya, Hermógenes Fernández-Marín, Ana Ješovnik, Tuula Niskanen, Kare Liimatainen, Caio A. Leal-Dutra, Scott E. Solomon, Nicole M. Gerardo, Cameron R. Currie, Mauricio Bacci Jr., Heraldo L. Vasconcelos, Christian Rabeling, Brant C. Faircloth, Vinson P. Doyle (2024): The coevolution of fungus-ant agriculture. Science 386, 105-110.
DOI: 10.1126/science.adn7179
Press release of the University of Hohenheim
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