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Camponotus and Blochmannia are in a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship. Blochmannia provides nutrition and health for Camponotus , while Camponotus provide food and living environment for Blochmannia.
However, Blochmannia is very sensitive to temperature, and climate change may pose a serious threat to Blochmannia, which in turn may affect the survival and prosperity of Camponotus .
Historical Encounters: Collaborations from Ancient Times
As early as the 1880s. German Zoologist found Blochmannia out in Camponotus . There is a type of bacteria in the body. He named these Blochmannia (infectious disease)"They also believe that there is a symbiotic relationship between them and the Camponotus.
In 2000, scientists officially categorized them as a separate genus of bacteria
**Blochmann was a professor at the University of Berlin, Germany, and a former president of the German Zoological Society. He was a prolific scholar and published many papers on insects throughout his life. The scientific name of the genus **Propionibacterium is based on Blochmann's name.
The symbiotic relationship between Blochmannia and Camponotus is a form of Mutually Beneficial and Symbiotic Relationship . Both parties benefit from this relationship. Blochmannia provides nutrition and health for the Camponotus , while the Camponotus provide food and habitat for the Blochmannia.
Intestinal Factory: Providing Nutrition and Health for Ant Colony
Blochmannia mainly lives in the midgut of Camponotus and in the ovaries of female ants.
They are like miniature factories that synthesize a wide range of amino acids, including those that are essential for ant colonies.tyrosine (Tyr), an amino acid,tryptophan (Trp), an essential amino acid,lysineetc. and help ants to decompose and process nitrogen.
Through these functions, Blochmannia enhances the nutritional level of the ants, which in turn promotes the overall health of the ant colony.
**Tyrosine is an important raw material for the synthesis of proteins, hormones and pigments. It is an important component of many hormones and pigments in the body of Camponotus.
**Tryptophan is an important raw material for the synthesis of melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that regulates the biological clock and plays an important role in the sleep and reproduction of Camponotus.
**Lysine is an important raw material for the synthesis of proteins, enzymes and antibodies. Lysine is an important ingredient in the synthesis of proteins, enzymes and antibodies in the body of Camponotus.
The Key to Colony Health: Cross-feeding
Research by scientists Zientz and others found that the contribution of Blochmannia is mainly realized through the "feedback" system of worker ants.Zientzet al. found that the contribution of B. burgdorferi was mainly through the "feed-back" system of worker ants.
Worker ants transport food carrying Blochmannia to their nests and share it with other ants, thus benefiting the whole colony.
By comparing the ant colony that was treated with antibiotics to reduce the Blochmannia population with the untreated ant colony, the researchers found that the ant colony with Blochmannia had a significantly better overall health.
Zientz suggested that this may be due to the fact that Blochmannia , which enhances the nutritional value of the food provided by the worker ants to their larvae, will gradually diminish its effect as the ants mature.
**Feeding and ruminating is a unique behavior of Camponotus. The worker ants will spit out the food they have obtained for other ants to eat.
**Larvae are the most vulnerable members of the ant colony and their nutritional needs are very high. The worker ants pass nutrients from adult ants to their larvae by feeding and regurgitating with each other, thus providing for the growth and development of the larvae.
The Hidden Worries of Climate Change: Fragile Symbiotic Relationships
It is interesting to note that Blochmannia is very sensitive to temperature. Researchers Fanrespond in singing Wernegreen An experiment was carried out in which Camponotus were placed in the37.7°Cenvironment for 4 weeks and found that more than 991 TP3T of Blochmannia abortus disappeared.
Even after 16 weeks, only a small amount remains. The discovery has raised concerns that warming may pose a serious threat to the Brucella bacteria, which may in turn affect the survival and prosperity of the giant mountain ants.
** Climate warming may lead to an increase in the global average temperature. This increase in temperature will adversely affect the survival of Brucella.
**Climate change is a global problem caused by human activities.
Conclusion
The story of Blochmannia is not only a revelation of the amazing symbiotic relationships in nature, but also a reminder of the potential impact of climate change on the microbial world.
