Transcript FISH HOOK ANT

FISH HOOK ANTS
Polyrhachis bihamata
Kingdom: Animalia
ECOLOGY
This species of ant is noted for the three pairs of curved spines from which it gets its common
name. They can grow as big as 1.5 cm long. They nest in dead hollow trees in a colony.
 Scientific Name: Polyrhachis bihamata
Common name: Fish Hook Ant
Location: Phillipines, Java, Laos, Sumatra, India and China
Niche: Within the colony to protect and provide food for the queen of the colony.
Niche: Within the ecosystem their role are scavengers. They feed off the remains of dead
organisms and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.
ECOLOGY
• Diet: Feeds on dead and decaying organisms
• Predators: Insectivores- birds, lizards, Army Ants
• Population: Unknown recently discovered. At present time not on
endangered list.
• Vegetation
Flying Lamar
Philippine Eagle
Fish Hook Ant
ECOLOGY
Symbiotic Relationship:
Predation: Predators such as birds and lizards
eat the Fish Hook Ants for food. This keeps
the ant population in check which prevents an
overpopulation of Fish Hook Ants.
BIOCHEMISTRY
Protein: Fish Hook Ants are able to obtain protein from dead organism
that
they feed upon. The protein is used by the cells for chemical processes.
Carbohydrates: Polysaccharides-Chitin which they obtain from the
exoskeleton of insects. Which in turn the larva of the ants use to make
their exoskeleton.
Cells & Cellular Processes
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Cell Type: Eukaryotic Animal Cell
Number of cells: Multicellular
Organism produces energy through the process of cellular respiration
Fish Hook Ant break down carbohydrates in order to release energy in the
process of cellular respiration
Genetics
Variation in color: Red and Black
R = red
r = black
L = long
l = short
RL RL rL
rL
rL RrLL RrLL rrLL rrLL
RrLl RrLl rrLl rrLl
rl
P1= Heterozygous in color & homozygous long antenna
RrLL RrLL rrLL rrLL
P2= Homozygous black color & heterozygous antenna rL
RrLL X rrLl
rl RrLl RrLl rrLl
rrLl
EVOLUTION
• Organisms closely related to Fish Hook Ants are Bees and Wasps
• Classification: Since Ants Bees and Wasps are in the same Order means they
are closely related.
EVOLUTION
• 3 traits that serve as an adaptation to help them survive and reproduce
• 1) 3 razor sharp fish hook-like claws on their backs for defense.
• 2) They are able to use these hooks to hook on to other Fish Hook Ants to deter
an attack from a predator on a single individual ant.
• 3) The hooks of the ants are embedded into the flesh of the attacking predator
A Fish Hook Ant colony does not compete with each other for food within the
colonies. However there is competition between different colonies for their food.
Human Impact
Humans are having a negative direct impact on the Fish Hook
Ants due to the deforestation of the Rain Forest. Since Fish
Hook Ant colonies nest in trees, the clearing of the Rain Forest
for human usage means fewer trees in which the ants have for
shelter.
Work Cited
(1) Manila, Luzon Animals In the Philippines http://www.philippines.hvu.nl/animals1.htm
(2) Wrenn, Eddie Scientists unveil 20 new species ... including a giant blue scorpion and
massive hairy spider (how DID we ever get by without them?) 6 June 2012
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2155441/Scientists-unveil-20-newspecies--blue-scorpion-tarantula-size-hand-got-knowing.html