An Ant Species Has Changed What Lions Eat

A paper published in Science shows that lions now hunt bison forty-two percent of the time, up from zero percent, before an invasive big-headed ant species was inadvertently introduced into the acacia environment.

The ants likely were brought in with produce to supply tourist camps. Scientists observed areas where invasive ants were present and where ants weren't, and they noted significant changes in lions' prey preferences in the different areas. Lions' previous hunting choice of zebra could fall from sixty-two percent to twenty-two percent.

The paper explains just how a foreign acacia ant species can affect what lions eat. The invasive ants attack and kill the local acacia ants. Acacia ants protect their acacia tree homes from elephant foraging. When elephants try to uproot an acacia tree, the local ants crawl inside the elephant's trunk and sting, causing the animal to leave the trees alone.

The absence of acacia ants allows elephants to clear more savanna and alters visibility range, so lions no longer have tree cover from which to stalk their prey. It is described by scientists as "no ants, no plants."

The profound impact of a seemingly insignificant ant community on the behavior of apex predators like lions underscores the delicate balance of ecosystems. As plant ecologist Emilio Bruna puts it, "Ecologists should be looking out for other pairs like this where a single relationship is a foundation for an entire ecosystem." It highlights the need for further research and conservation efforts to protect these fragile ecosystems.

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