““Meanwhile in South America acacia trees rely on ants to defend them from Weeds, pests, and grazers. In return they give their bodyguards sugary snacks to eat and Hollow Thorns to live in. It looks like an equitable relationship Until you realize that the tree laces its food with an enzyme that stops the ants from digesting other sources of sugar. The ants are indentured servants. Alll of these are iconic examples of cooperation found in textbooks and Wildlife documentaries and each of them is teemed with conflict, manipulation and deceit.””
