When Tiny, Invasive Ants Go Marching In...And Alter An Ecosystem
b'At the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a wildlife preserve in central Kenya, lions and cheetahs mingle with zebras and elephants across many miles of savannah \\u2013 grasslands with "whistling thorn" acacia trees dotting the landscape here and there. Twenty years ago, the savanna was littered with them. Then came invasive big-headed ants that killed native ants \\u2014 and left the acacia trees vulnerable. Over time, elephants have knocked down many of the trees. That has altered the landscape \\u2014 and the diets of other animals in the local food web.
Curious about other science news? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NPR Privacy Policy'