Question

The association between ants and some members of the family Rubiaceae is
(a) Ornithophily
(b) Entomophily
(c) Myrmecophily
(d) Anemophily

Answer 1

Hint: It is a type of species association that is mutualistic and it occurs between the ants and the plants where the association may be commensal or parasitic depending upon the food habit of the organism.

Complete step by step answer:
The association between the ants and the members of the family Rubiaceae is known as Myrmecophily. It is a mutualistic association between the ants or the plant or even small insects and fungi. It is commensal or parasitic as it may harm or may not harm one species and benefits the other species.
- The ants are present in a large number in the ecosystem so are said to be the main predators of the invertebrates.
- They play a major role in keeping a check on the richness, structure, and abundance of certain species.
- The association of ants with the members of the family Rubiaceae is a type of symbiotic relationship.
 - In this relationship, both the ants and the plants get benefits from each other the plants provide the food and the shelter for ants to live in while in return the ants help the plants in the process of pollination by transferring the pollen from one place to the other.
- The Rubiacaea family is known as the family of coffee.
- They are succulent epiphytes (that grow on plants to absorb nutrients) that associate with ants
- The hypocotyl region of the plant will develop and form a tuber where the ants live.
- The plants of this family may also have holes in their stem where the ants live.
So, the correct answer is ‘Myrmecophily’.

Note: The term myrmecophily simply means the ‘ant loving’. The term simply indicates the association of any organism with the ants. This may also lead to better evolution as the new adaptations increase in the individuals. It results in the coexistence of different species together and helps in maintaining the community structure.