UPSC 2022EnvironmentModerate

Certain species of which one of the following organisms are well known as cultivators of fungi ?

A
Ant
Correct Answer
B
Cockroach
C
Crab
D
Spider

Explanation

Ants, particularly leafcutter ants, are well-known for practicing "fungiculture," where they actively cultivate fungal gardens on organic matter to serve as their primary food source. While spiders or crabs exhibit complex behaviors, they are primarily predators or scavengers and do not engage in the deliberate agricultural farming of fungi. The core concept being tested is symbiotic mutualism and specialized ecological niches within the animal kingdom.

Animal Behavior / SymbiosisFungi Cultivation by AnimalsFungi cultivatorsAntCockroachCrabSpidersymbiosismutualismleaf-cutter ants

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