“African plants have many defences against elephants. Some try to match them for strength by developing thick buttresses. Others rely on physical defences like thorns and poisons. Yet others abandon the fight and concentrate on being able to re-grow quickly. None of these measures is foolproof; despite these efforts, elephants frequently damage trees, severely and sometimes fatally. The whistling thorn acacia (Acacia drepanolobium) is a striking exception. Even in the heart of elephant country, it’s rarely touched and can grow in dense forests. It’s no coincidence that the whistling thorn has a partnership with ants. It provides them with homes in the form of swollen thorns, and food in the form of nectar. In return, the ants attack any invaders, regardless of their size.”
via Threatened by elephants? Try recruiting ants | Not Exactly Rocket Science.
