Ants and aphids appear to have mutualistic relationsips. Ant's stroke aphids with forelegs and antennae to get them to secrete droplets of parly digested plant sap. It is thougth that the aphids lose nothing because the sap is high in sugars and low in amino acids so the aphids ingest more sugar then they need. In retun for the sugar, the ants protect the aphids form their enemeites such as wasps and beetles. Resluts show that in some circumstances it is mutual while in others the relationsship is commensal with only the ant recieving a benefit.
So what situation would make this situation commensal?
2007-06-04 04:33:49 · 1 answers · asked by Anthropomorphic 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
The situation would be commensal if the ants didn't provide any protection, which would occur when the bugs that eat aphids also eat ants.
2007-06-04 04:51:25 · answer #1 · answered by formerly_bob 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋