Refer to the Figure

question 47

Essay

Refer to the figure.
Leaf-cutter ant colonies, which farm fungi for food, are often infested with a specialized parasitic fungus called Escovopsis. Under normal conditions, the ants periodically "weed" their fungal gardens, removing unwanted materials and organisms. The figure illustrates results of an experiment showing what happens to weeding behavior when the ant colony is exposed to water, to Trichoderma (a generalist fungal parasite), and to Escovopsis. What does this figure suggest about the mutualism between leaf-cutter ants and the fungi they farm?

---

Definitions:

Northern Reformers

Individuals or groups from the Northern United States who advocated for various social, political, and economic reforms during the 19th century, often concerning the abolition of slavery and reconstruction efforts.

War of Attrition

A military strategy in which one side attempts to win a conflict by wearing down the enemy to the point of collapse through continuous losses in personnel and material.

Army of the Potomac

The primary Union fighting force in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, notable for its role in major battles and campaigns under various commanders.

U.S. Military Academy

Also known as West Point, a prestigious institution that educates and trains officers for the United States Army.