If the ants were removed from the acacia tree the trees would be stripped of their leaves by elephants. The ants serve as a defense mechanism for the trees.
The tree would not bother to protect itself and it would reduce nectar and make fewer thorns. It would become sick and and grow slower than other Acacia trees because of the of protection it is getting from the removed ants.
yes
acacia ants
In the mutualistic relationship between thorn acacia trees and acacia ants, the acacia tree provides shelter and food (nectar and protein-rich Beltian bodies) to the ants, while the ants protect the tree from herbivores and competing plants. However, if the relationship becomes imbalanced, the acacia tree can be harmed if the ants become overly aggressive, attacking beneficial insects or even larger organisms that do not threaten the tree. Additionally, if the tree's growth is stunted or compromised, it may not produce enough resources for the ants, leading to a decline in both populations.
Parasitism
They have a mutual relationship. At the base of the thorns of the acacia tree there are hollow lumps which the ants can turn into a hive. When animals, such as giraffes, start to eat the soft acacia leaves it vibrates the stems and the ants come out and attack the intruder annoying the giraffe so much that it stops eating at the acacia and moves on to find a less irritable meal. The tree then repays the ants by giving off a sweet nectar that the ants use to feed to there larvae. The ants also patrol down and around the base of the acacia and not eat but chew and destroy any other alien saplings growing in the vicinity of the acacia (not using a single bit of the destroyed plant). It is almost as if the ants know they are helping the acacia dominate and get as much water as possible.
nothing exept to die. from answers.com
the stinging ants living in the thorns of the acacia tree to keep animals from eating the acacia's leaves
The ant and the acacia tree have a mutualistic relationship. The ant depends on the sugar provided by the tree's nectar. In turn, the tree is protected by these ants from insect pests that could harm it.
Predators typically avoid ants on acacia trees because these ants have developed a mutualistic relationship with the tree, which provides them with shelter and food in the form of nectar and protein-rich Beltian bodies. In return, the ants aggressively defend the acacia against herbivores and other threats. This defensive behavior deters potential predators, as they risk injury from the aggressive ants. Additionally, the ants' presence signals that the tree is protected, making it less appealing for predators to attempt to feed on the tree's foliage.
Yes because the tree will give shelter for ants when it's raining nd during summer for the tree she will be happy haha
Predators are less likely to eat ants that live in acacia trees because these ants have a mutualistic relationship with the tree, which provides them with shelter and food in the form of nectar and protein-rich Beltian bodies. In return, the ants protect the acacia from herbivores and competing plants. Additionally, the aggressive behavior of these ants, along with their ability to deliver painful stings, deters potential predators from attacking them. This mutualism creates a protective environment for the ants, making them less vulnerable to predation.