Page 25 - Science Focus (Issue 018)

to be cutting and carrying leaves. Actually, these underground critters are pioneers of
agriculture, practicing farming even before humans did [4]. Their underground nests are
split into rooms for different activities and members of the hierarchy [5]. The “farming
room” is where they bring their freshly-cut leaves to cultivate their fungal garden. They
also protect their fungi from pests and other unwanted growth, and remove waste when
necessary. One way they remove harmful bacteria and unwanted fungi is through
secreting antimicrobials [4, 6]. The fungi, in return, act as food for the ants. This symbiotic
relationship first arose 50 million years ago and has sustained both species’ populations
till now [4], showing that even simple animals such as ants are capable of forming and
carrying out complex relationships and activities.

Mating Rituals in Birds and Spiders

One of the prime purposes for species to survive is to reproduce successfully and pass
on their genes to the offspring. To achieve this, animals have many tricks up their sleeve to
land them the partner they want.
Like humans, some animals are selective in choosing their mates. For example, male
birds-of-paradise, living in Papua New Guinea and eastern Australia, have elaborate
courtship rituals where they dance to attract females [7]. The male Western Parotia (Parotia
sefilata) is a black-colored bird with patches of iridescent yellow feathers by its neck.
Before dancing for his mate, he first clears the ground of any fallen leaves and debris over
a few days. At the open forest ground, females perch on the branches around to watch
the show. Upon the females’ arrival, the male performs on the “dance floor” with a polite
bow, and with a flash of his blue eyes that momentarily turn yellow, followed by swaying,
fancy footwork, head bobbing, and even a fancy move of spinning his body while
holding it in a circular shape, as if it were a spinning black disk. Throughout the show, he
flashes patches of bright-colored feathers alongside certain moves to show his fantastic
dancing skills.
Other animals may adopt a lower profile in finding their mates. The nursery web spider
is one example. To charm a female, males present food parcels that are wrapped with
their own silk. The female usually prefers mating with the one that can provide high quality
food in a nice package. It was found that males without a gift only had a 40% chance of
successfully mating, whereas those with a gift had a 90% chance [8]. Interestingly, some
sneaky males would eat the food within the silk and present an empty present to the
female [9]. Females that are not vigilant might be tricked and only realized it after mating.
Fortunately, not all love stories in the animal world have sad endings. The albatross (a
group of Antarctic birds) stay with one and only one mate for their lifetime.
Spending most of their time in the open seas hunting for fish, they return
to land once every year or every two years to reunite with their mate
and reproduce [10].

Summary
Although most animals are not bipedal and
cannot speak the same language as we do
(as Animal Crossing may have wanted us
to believe), they have a set of unique
behaviors that demonstrate their
intelligence and complexity.
Besides knowing the differences
between humans and other
an i m a l s, we sh o u l d a l so
appreciate the wonder of their
similarities and the complexity
in the world of wild animals.

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