The 3 brochure series: “The W

orld of the Zompopas” offers a

The 3 brochure series: “The W

orld of the Zompopas” offers a

The 3 brochure series: “The W

orld of the Zompopas” offers a

The 3 brochure series: “The W

orld of the Zompopas” offers a

summ

arized

version of the even

ts and interactions that take

summ

arized

version of the even

ts and interactions that take

summ

arized

version of the even

ts and interactions that take

summ

arized

version of the even

ts and interactions that take

place inside and outside of the colonies of these

fascinating

place inside and outside of the colonies of these

fascinating

place inside and outside of the colonies of these

fascinating

place inside and outside of the colonies of these

fascinating

ants, which belong to the Genus Atta and Acromyrmex

ants, which belong to the Genus Atta and Acromyrmex

ants, which belong to the Genus Atta and Acromyrmex

ants, which belong to the Genus Atta and Acromyrmex

T H E W O R L D O F

T H E Z O M P O P A S

Learn more at:

www.zompopas.comwww.zompopas.comwww.zompopas.comwww.zompopas.com

Brochure 3Brochure 3Brochure 3Brochure 3

---- Symbiosis inside the colonySymbiosis inside the colonySymbiosis inside the colonySymbiosis inside the colony----

Elaborated by :Elaborated by :Elaborated by :Elaborated by :

Ibrahim Zúñiga Chaves, Adrián Pinto TomasIbrahim Zúñiga Chaves, Adrián Pinto TomasIbrahim Zúñiga Chaves, Adrián Pinto TomasIbrahim Zúñiga Chaves, Adrián Pinto Tomas

Universidad de Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa Rica

Translaled by:Translaled by:Translaled by:Translaled by:

José GuevaraJosé GuevaraJosé GuevaraJosé Guevara

Universidad de Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa Rica

Made possible thanks to the award: Made possible thanks to the award: Made possible thanks to the award: Made possible thanks to the award:

“Aportes a la Calidad y la Excelencia”, “Aportes a la Calidad y la Excelencia”, “Aportes a la Calidad y la Excelencia”, “Aportes a la Calidad y la Excelencia”,

from Florida Ice and Farm Co.from Florida Ice and Farm Co.from Florida Ice and Farm Co.from Florida Ice and Farm Co.

1111 1. Alex Wild. www.alexanderwild.com

2. Dennis Castro. Universidad de Costa Rica

3. Adrián Pinto. Universidad de Costa Rica

4. Aisnlie Little

5. Rolando Moreira. Universidad de Costa Rica

6. Ibrahim Zúñiga. Universidad de Costa Rica

Photographs

S Y M B I O S I S S Y M B I O S I S S Y M B I O S I S S Y M B I O S I S I N S I D EI N S I D EI N S I D EI N S I D E

T H ET H ET H ET H E C O L O N YC O L O N YC O L O N YC O L O N Y

It has been 100 years since scientists It has been 100 years since scientists It has been 100 years since scientists It has been 100 years since scientists

discovered the interaction between zom-discovered the interaction between zom-discovered the interaction between zom-discovered the interaction between zom-

popas and the fungus they feed on. popas and the fungus they feed on. popas and the fungus they feed on. popas and the fungus they feed on.

However, in recent years it has been dis-However, in recent years it has been dis-However, in recent years it has been dis-However, in recent years it has been dis-

covered that the ecological success of covered that the ecological success of covered that the ecological success of covered that the ecological success of

these ants is based on their ability to es-these ants is based on their ability to es-these ants is based on their ability to es-these ants is based on their ability to es-

tablish symbiotic relationships with other tablish symbiotic relationships with other tablish symbiotic relationships with other tablish symbiotic relationships with other

organisms, gaining protection and nu-organisms, gaining protection and nu-organisms, gaining protection and nu-organisms, gaining protection and nu-

trients.trients.trients.trients.

1111 The mutualistic relationship between the cultiva-

ted fungus and the ants dates back approximate-

ly 10 million years ago. Nowdays, none is capable

of surviving without the other. Ants benefit by

getting food, and the fungus receives protection,

mechanism of dispersion and also feeding from

plant fragments. For many years it was thought

that only the symbiotic fungus grew in the gar-

dens. Today we know that there are various mi-

croorganisms, some beneficial , others harmful.

2222 Like what occurs with our crops, which are attac-

ked by pests, the ants cultivated fungus is also

attacked by a parasite which destroys it and ab-

sorbs the nutrients released when dead. This pa-

rasite, called Escovopsis, it’s a highly virulent and

specific microscopic fungus, because it has been

found associated with zompopa colonies. A suc-

cessful Escovopsis infection can destroy the fun-

gus garden, just like in this image

3333 Because of the constant threat Escovopsis pos-

ses ants have developed various defense mecha-

nisms. The most important in this category is the

mutualistic relationship with bacteria from the

order Actinomycetales. These produce antibiotics

against Escovopsis and other parasites that

might attack the fungus. The bacteria grow on the

body of the ants,

which provides nu-

trients and an opti-

mum environment

for its development.

For instance in the

genus Acromyrmex

bacteria can be

seen covering the

body of an ant

4444 The fungus garden is colonized by other bacteria

which are beneficial in the process of nutrient

obtaining. Some fixate nitrogen, meaning that

they are capable of obtaining this valuable nu-

trient from the air and deposit it into the fungus

garden, in such a way that the ants can use it.

Others are cellulose degrading, which means

that allow the colony to process great quantities

of plant material and turn it into energy.

5 5 5 5 Symbiosis between zompopas and microorganismSymbiosis between zompopas and microorganismSymbiosis between zompopas and microorganismSymbiosis between zompopas and microorganism.

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4444 6666

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