Douglas N Kamaru, Todd M Palmer, Corinna Riginos, Adam T Ford, Jayne Belnap, Robert M Chira, John M Githaiga, Benard C Gituku, Brandon R Hays, Cyrus M Kavwele, Alfred K Kibungei, Clayton T Lamb, Nelly J Maiyo, Patrick D Milligan, Samuel Mutisya, Caroline C Ng'weno, Michael Ogutu, Alejandro G Pietrek, Brendon T Wildt, Jacob R Goheen
Mutualisms often define ecosystems, but they are susceptible to human activities. Combining experiments, animal tracking, and mortality investigations, we show that the invasive big-headed ant ( Pheidole megacephala ) makes lions ( Panthera leo ) less effective at killing their primary prey, plains zebra ( Equus quagga ). Big-headed ants disrupted the mutualism between native ants ( Crematogaster spp.) and the dominant whistling-thorn tree ( Vachellia drepanolobium ), rendering trees vulnerable to elephant ( Loxodonta africana ) browsing and resulting in landscapes with higher visibility...
January 26, 2024: Science