It looks like a mixture of horror and science fiction: ants living in the treetops are invaded by a parasitic fungus that makes them behave like zombies, before killing them and leaving them, as the officer corps Alien Kane, the original film by Ridley Scott.
It is not a new phenomenon. It is thought to occur for at least 48 million years and in 1850 the British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace had seen in Indonesia.
"Instead of just documenting the relationship between this fungus and ants in tropical forests, we could look inside the heads of ants, with techniques such as microscopes, to a much higher resolution," Hughes and his team discovered several species of mushroom few months ago.
"This has allowed a better idea of that relationship and we are beginning to understand the mechanisms used by the fungus to control ants," he added.
According to Hughes, the fungi attack on two fronts. On the one hand, the ants feed on infected and, second, control your central nervous system and muscles.
Scientists have found that, once infected, the ants start walking erratically and have seizures.
Therefore, fall from their nests in the tops of the trees and can not return them.
According to researchers, this strategy fungus compelled to remain in the understory, where cooler conditions allow you to develop better.
Meanwhile, the fungus continues to grow inside the ant, until, one afternoon, when the sun is stronger, make them bite the main vein on the underside of a leaf.
Infected ants can not be separated, and after death, the leaf bit.
"We have seen that, before biting the blade, the muscles of the ant has changed in dramatic fashion, no doubt due to the production of some chemicals that are very interesting," Hughes told us.
"Of course, fungi are known to produce a wide range of chemicals, thanks to that we have drugs like penicillin, and during the developmental period, the fungus has developed substances to change the muscles of the ants," he said.
A few days later, the fungus begins to emerge at the head of the ant and grows for about three weeks.
Once you reach your ideal size, new releases spores to infect other ants that are in the area.
Extended Phenotype :
Eventually, the team that conducted the study, the ants become extended phenotypes of fungi, ie a visible manifestation of their genotype.
The scientists concluded that "extended phenotypes in ants fungal infections are caused by a complex example of manipulation of behavior that requires coordinated changes of behavior and morphology of the host."
The researchers recommend further studies on "the genetic basis of these phenotypes extended."
Hughes said his team continues to research in tropical forests of the east coast of Brazil and the Amazon, as well as North America and in northeastern Australia.
The investigator said that the phenomenon occurs almost everywhere in the world and affects many types of insects such as beetles, flies and butterflies, but in these cases the change is not so dramatic.
"The fungus kills and develops inside to leave, but not change their behavior, unlike what you do with the ants and to some extent with the wasps," he said.
"But perhaps most studies find that the fungus develops mechanisms to control the behavior of other animals," he said.
"Up to now only fully understand what happens to the ants in relation to fungi, it is the only group we have investigated in depth"
"Instead of just documenting the relationship between this fungus and ants in tropical forests, we could look inside the heads of ants, with techniques such as microscopes, to a much higher resolution," Hughes and his team discovered several species of mushroom few months ago.
"This has allowed a better idea of that relationship and we are beginning to understand the mechanisms used by the fungus to control ants," he added.
According to Hughes, the fungi attack on two fronts. On the one hand, the ants feed on infected and, second, control your central nervous system and muscles.
Scientists have found that, once infected, the ants start walking erratically and have seizures.
Therefore, fall from their nests in the tops of the trees and can not return them.
According to researchers, this strategy fungus compelled to remain in the understory, where cooler conditions allow you to develop better.
Meanwhile, the fungus continues to grow inside the ant, until, one afternoon, when the sun is stronger, make them bite the main vein on the underside of a leaf.
Infected ants can not be separated, and after death, the leaf bit.
"We have seen that, before biting the blade, the muscles of the ant has changed in dramatic fashion, no doubt due to the production of some chemicals that are very interesting," Hughes told us.
"Of course, fungi are known to produce a wide range of chemicals, thanks to that we have drugs like penicillin, and during the developmental period, the fungus has developed substances to change the muscles of the ants," he said.
A few days later, the fungus begins to emerge at the head of the ant and grows for about three weeks.
Once you reach your ideal size, new releases spores to infect other ants that are in the area.
Extended Phenotype :
Eventually, the team that conducted the study, the ants become extended phenotypes of fungi, ie a visible manifestation of their genotype.
The scientists concluded that "extended phenotypes in ants fungal infections are caused by a complex example of manipulation of behavior that requires coordinated changes of behavior and morphology of the host."
The researchers recommend further studies on "the genetic basis of these phenotypes extended."
Hughes said his team continues to research in tropical forests of the east coast of Brazil and the Amazon, as well as North America and in northeastern Australia.
The investigator said that the phenomenon occurs almost everywhere in the world and affects many types of insects such as beetles, flies and butterflies, but in these cases the change is not so dramatic.
"The fungus kills and develops inside to leave, but not change their behavior, unlike what you do with the ants and to some extent with the wasps," he said.
"But perhaps most studies find that the fungus develops mechanisms to control the behavior of other animals," he said.
"Up to now only fully understand what happens to the ants in relation to fungi, it is the only group we have investigated in depth"
