Final answer:
Leaf-cutter ants have a mutualistic relationship with fungi by farming them in underground gardens, where they cultivate the fungi on leaf cuttings. The fungi break down cellulose which the ants cannot digest, and in return, the ants feed on the gongylidia produced by the fungi and protect the gardens from competitors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Leaf-cutter ants from Central and South America have a symbiotic and mutualistic relationship with fungi. These ants harvest disks of leaves to create underground gardens, where they cultivate the fungi. The fungi digest cellulose in the leaves, breaking it down into smaller sugar molecules that they consume. In exchange, the ants feed on a special structure called the gongylidia, which is produced by the fungi.
The ants use their abilities to patrol and protect their fungal gardens by eliminating competing fungi, which is their main tool for controlling 'pest' fungi and ensuring the health of their crop. This emphasizes the complex interdependence between the leaf-cutter ants and their cultivated fungi.