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Biological Sciences Division
Research Highlights

March 2012

Bacteria Tend Leafcutter Ants' Gardens

Microbes turn leaves into nutrients; knowledge could improve biofuel production

Leafcutter ants, the tiny red dots known for carrying green leaves as they march through tropical forests, are also talented farmers that cultivate gardens of fungi and bacteria. Ants eat fungi from the so-called fungal gardens, but the bacteria's role has been unclear until now.

Leaf cutter ants

For more information, read the PNNL news release.


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