Ammon – A group of researchers has proven how the invasion of a type of single-waisted ant disrupted the fragile ecosystem of the savannah plains and the feeding habits of lions in Kenya.
University of Florida professor Todd Palmer, one of the authors of the study published Thursday in the journal Science, noted that “the world is governed by very small things that can cause devastating effects that we do not expect.”
Fifteen years ago, the vast plains of Laikipia in Kenya were covered with acacia, a tree species that created a harmonious balance between different species in its surroundings.
A local species of ant built its nest on this tree, becoming its defender. Despite its thorns, local herbivores, specifically elephants, fed on the acacia. But these animals refrained from eating acacia because of the stings they received from the colonies of these insects.
The relationship between the ant and the tree ended due to the emergence of the ant with a large head, which was reinforced by human activities. The new species of ants quickly drove out the old ones from the acacia trees, which became vulnerable to elephants once again.
The element of surprise has dissipated
At first, no one noticed these ants “because they are not aggressive towards larger creatures, including humans,” according to Palmer.
He added, “But now we see that it is changing the landscape in very subtle ways, but with devastating effects.”
Previous studies showed that the arrival of the invasive species caused elephants to cause five to seven times more damage to acacia than they had previously caused, which led to a reduction in forest cover.
This cover was an essential element in the hunting strategy that lions used, as thanks to the leaves of these trees, there was an element of surprise, which was necessary to catch their favorite prey, represented by zebras.
The study was conducted over a period of three years in the Al-Bijita Reserve in Kenya, by comparing areas that were invaded by big-headed ants and areas that were not. It found that the arrival of big-headed ants caused fatal attacks by lions on zebras to be reduced by a factor of three.
Problems for other types
In addition to the reduction in the number of lions due to a lack of food, these animals adapted to the situation by adopting new prey, buffalo. But buffalo require additional effort from lions because catching them is difficult.
Douglas Camaro, another co-author of the study, told AFP that lion numbers remained “stable, despite all the successive impacts that occurred.”
But “the question is what result will be recorded in the future” if any new development occurs, as the number of lions in the region has decreased significantly and has reached one hundred from about two thousand, and a change in the diet of lions could cause an unexpected series of consequences.
Even if lions currently find an effective coping strategy, big-headed ants could cause problems for other species that depend on acacia trees, such as giraffes or the endangered black rhino, according to the study.
These risks have previously been proven. Last year, the Intergovernmental Scientific Advisory Group of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity identified more than 37,000 tropical species that had established themselves far from their original habitats. Among these species, 3,500 are invasive, causing significant damage to biodiversity.
AFP
