Not only do humans grow food plants, some animal species also practice a kind of agriculture. Researchers at the University of Florida have now discovered that certain gophers run underground carrot farms in the United States. According to this, the southeastern gopher itself fertilizes and harvests parts of its food.
The rat species, scientifically called Geomys pinetis, lives in extensive underground systems, feeding mainly on roots growing in their tunnels, the scientists report in the journal Current Biology. According to them, the animals not only harvest them, but also cultivate underground root fields with their excrement as manure.
“Animals are important ecosystem engineers”
In this way, the gopher can continue to provide itself with food while the tunnel is being built, which will cover between 20 and 60 percent of its daily energy needs. Researcher Veronica Selden said she hopes her study will create a larger platform for the little-studied animals. “Purse rats are much more interesting than you give them credit,” said the zoologist. “They’re really important ecosystem engineers.”
This kind of behavior, which has now been discovered in gophers, has so far only been known in insects such as ants, beetles and termites. Leafcutter ants, for example, grow mushrooms. To do this, they chew leaves, on which the mushrooms thrive.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
