Fun fact #5 : This one is about the symbiosis between termites and fungi. Some say that fungi practically farm the fungi and but the fungi also gets what it wants; a home and food. It all starts with the termites. They go outside and munch up some woody matter but the termite doesn't get much nutrition from this woody matter. Instead they chew it up and bring it back to the termite mound where they excrete it out into little piles (in a specific place in the nest). In the process of chewing the wood bits up their saliva sterilises it and kills any other organisms (like wood eating ones)...

Question

trancenova · Answer

...These little piles have fungi living inside and the conditions are perfect for fungi growth. This fungi wouldn't survive in the outside world as they would not be able to compete with all the other wood munching organisms. So the fungi happily decomposes the organic matter which the termites kindly deposited for them, completely free of other organisms. The ants wait 5-8 weeks when it is mostly decomposed, then they eat the organic matter again, both with fungi and the decomposed wood. This time termites are able to get their nutrients from this (yum yum!). The fungi get free food and when the termite poops again, a new home.

anonymous · Answer

were do you get this stuff from

trancenova · Answer

Usually I think about it during the day and write down anything I might learn, then I research it and write something on it :) These termites live in the arid regions of Africa (and a few other places I can't remember).

trancenova · Answer

Ignore the "and but" :P man... I don't know how many times I read over it...

trancenova · Answer

Thanks for the medals guys :D

aroub · Answer

wow trance! ur soo goodd!!!!! :) :)

trancenova · Answer

Awww thanks :D :D