Grinath, a researcher at Florida State University, was already analyzing the codependent relationship between ants and treehoppers, which are tiny insects that poop sweet honeydew juice. The ants ward off predators that eat treehoppers, and in return, gorge on honeydew. The sap-sucking treehoppers chew on yellow rabbitbrush, a native plant that also hides sage grouse and provides forage for deer and elk. Grinath's earlier research in the meadow showed that rabbitbrush produces fewer seeds and struggles to grow whenever ants and treehoppers are present on the plants.
When the hungry bear appeared, wreaking havoc on ant nests for a high-protein snack, Grinath decided to track the cascading effects of this top predator. "When you look at a real ecosystem, it's not just predator-prey interactions," Grinath told Live Science. "There are many different kinds of interactions, and they all influence each other.
Grinath, a researcher at Florida State University, was already analyzing the codependent relationship between ants and treehoppers, which are tiny insects that poop sweet honeydew juice. The ants ward off predators that eat treehoppers, and in return, gorge on honeydew. The sap-sucking treehoppers chew on yellow rabbitbrush, a native plant that also hides sage grouse and provides forage for deer and elk. Grinath's earlier research in the meadow showed that rabbitbrush produces fewer seeds and struggles to grow whenever ants and treehoppers are present on the plants.
When the hungry bear appeared, wreaking havoc on ant nests for a high-protein snack, Grinath decided to track the cascading effects of this top predator. "When you look at a real ecosystem, it's not just predator-prey interactions," Grinath told Live Science. "There are many different kinds of interactions, and they all influence each other.
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