Intera es mutualísticas entre formigas e plantas

O mutualismo entre formigas e plantas está entre as intera es mais bem estudadas. Seu estudo vem sugerindo e testando hipóteses ecológicas e evolucionárias aplicáveis a muitas outras formas de mutualismo. A cada ano rela es mais especializadas entre formigas e plantas s o descobertas. Entre estas rela es podemos mencionar a obten o de abrigo e/ou alimento pela formiga, que implica no fornecimento de prote o a planta contra herbivoria, dispers o de suas sementes e, até, poliniza o de suas flores. Nesta revis o s o discutidos os tipos de intera es mutualísticas entre formigas e plantas existentes.Mutualistics interactions between ants and plantsAbstract. The mutualism between ant and plants is the one of the more studied ecological relationships, and these studies have been suggesting and testing ecological and evolutionary hypothesis that can be applied to many other kinds of mutualism. Each year more specialized mutualism relationships between ants and plants are discovered. Among these relations we can mention the obtaining of shelter and / or food by the ant, witch implies in providing plant protection against herbivory, dispersal of seeds and even pollination of their flowers. In this review are discussed mutualistics types of interactions between ants and existing plants.