IUBio

rain forest ant-spore neurobiology

L. Detweiler ld231782 at LANCE.ColoState.Edu
Mon Sep 6 22:51:55 EST 1993


Some time ago I saw a public television documentary on the rain forest. It
included information about a spore-ant relationship in which a fungal spore
infects the nervous system of ground-dwelling ants, causing them to go
`insane' and begin climbing plants, where they die. The fungus then buds,
grows, and releases new airborn spores from a high position.

Yes, it sounds like SF but I'm not making this up (to quote Dave Barry).

Does anyone have more information on this? In particular I'm curious as to
the neurobiological underpinnings of the interaction.

tx.

--

ld231782 at longs.LANCE.ColoState.EDU



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