Important note: fungal transplants
Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2016 1:22 pm
I am currently reading through a series of papers regarding compatibility of fungus between same species nests.
I seems that the reason why fungus can be freely transplanted between nests of the colonies I supply is because these are coming from island populations and the fungus is genetically very closely related. However on the South American mainland the situation is different and transplanted fungus between colonies is liable to be rejected. Ironically this has come to light because my son is in 2nd year biology at Oxford Uni and he has expressed an interest in doing his thesis on Leaf Cutters. One of the worlds leading Leaf Cutting Ant specialists is working there just now and it is his research I am reading about this. Will have implications on transplants next year when I bring back colonies of Leaf Cutting Ants from South America. Should be interesting. I will post the papers and more comments on this as I get them. Watch this space!!
I seems that the reason why fungus can be freely transplanted between nests of the colonies I supply is because these are coming from island populations and the fungus is genetically very closely related. However on the South American mainland the situation is different and transplanted fungus between colonies is liable to be rejected. Ironically this has come to light because my son is in 2nd year biology at Oxford Uni and he has expressed an interest in doing his thesis on Leaf Cutters. One of the worlds leading Leaf Cutting Ant specialists is working there just now and it is his research I am reading about this. Will have implications on transplants next year when I bring back colonies of Leaf Cutting Ants from South America. Should be interesting. I will post the papers and more comments on this as I get them. Watch this space!!