2) Reflect on this:
How has/will human activities in the Amazon regions affect the Allomerus decemarticulatus ants?
The human activities such as deforestation in the Amazon regions affect the Allomerus decemarticulatus ants. This is so as when the human cut down the trees in the Amazon region, the ants would not be able to retrieve the “tiny fibres” from the trees and could not make the “spongy platform”. Thus, without all these, they could not make their trap and would be deprived of food, and thus, these Allomerus decemarticulatus ants will be extinct soon.
3) Answer the following questions:
a) From the extract, identify the different symbiotic relationships and cite the organisms involved. Clue: There are at least 3 types of relationship.
1. Mutualism: When the ants put the mould inside the holes in the platform, the mould would be able to grow very quickly, due to the protein that was provided by the ants. Thus, the ants give the mould protein, and the mould in turn, help them by hidden away from those prey
2. Predation: The ants get their source of energy from predating those preys that pass by their trap.
3. Commensalism: The ants would cut hair from the stem of the tree to use the fibre to build the spongy platform. The ants benefitted while the tree was not harmed.
b) For each type of relationship you have identified in (a), name another example of a pair of organisms depicting that relationship in nature.
Mutualism - Clownfish and sea anemones.
Commensalism: Cattle egrets and livestock
Predation: Venus Fly Trap and mosquito
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