5 replies to this topic

[Mettcollsuss]

So while derping anting around on the internet, I found this diagram of the Attini tribe.

 

 

It shows how the Attini tribe evolved and separated. What I don't understand is the different types of agriculture. What exactly is the difference between, say, leafcutter agriculture and higher agriculture, or coral-fungus agriculture vs. lower agriculture? Someone please explain! Thanks!

[Connectimyrmex]

Maybe lower agriculture is tiny sheets of fungus, while coral agriculture is the developed and ant-domesticated coral-like fungus.

[Mettcollsuss]

Maybe lower agriculture is tiny sheets of fungus, while coral agriculture is the developed and ant-domesticated coral-like fungus.

maybe. I've also seen the fungus gardens of fungus growing termites be described as a coral fungus.

[Batspiderfish]

These groups are classifications of the type and purity of  of the fungus that Attini might grow, ranging from a more generalist "low-agriculture" to a specialist "high-agriculture". These are further segregated by the clade of fungi that these ants prefer to grow, with leaf-cutters happening to specialize in a single species.

[Mettcollsuss]

These groups are classifications of the type and purity of  of the fungus that Attini might grow, ranging from a more generalist "low-agriculture" to a specialist "high-agriculture". These are further segregated by the clade of fungi that these ants prefer to grow, with leaf-cutters happening to specialize in a single species.

Oh. Thanks!

[Mettcollsuss]

Also, could it have anything to do with the size of colonies? For example, Atta form massive colonies millions of workers strong, while Acromyrmex colonies are impressive, but not quite as big, and Trachymyrmex colonies rarely reach above the 500s.