'Zombie' Parasite Cordyceps Fungus Takes Over Insects Through Mind Control | National Geographic

National Geographic

30 Apr 201904:09

Summary

TLDRThis script narrates the fascinating and eerie world of fungi and slime molds, particularly focusing on the parasitic fungus cordyceps. It details how cordyceps infects ants, taking over their bodies and minds, compelling them to seek optimal conditions for the fungus to grow and release spores. The cycle continues as more ants are infected, leading to the potential devastation of entire ant colonies. The script also hints at the broader impact of over 600 species of cordyceps found globally, preying on various hosts in jungles.

Takeaways

🍄 Fungi and slime molds are essential decomposers in forest ecosystems, breaking down dead organic matter.
🌪️ Fungi can reproduce rapidly, releasing up to 30,000 spores per second to spread and colonize new areas.
🕷️ Some fungi, like cordyceps, are parasitic and can infect living organisms, such as ants, altering their behavior.
🧠 Cordyceps fungus manipulates the ant's brain by releasing chemicals, compelling the ant to move to an optimal location for the fungus to grow.
🌞 The ideal conditions for the parasitic fungus include the right amount of light and humidity, which the infected ant is compelled to seek.
🦷 The infected ant is driven to clamp down in a 'death bite,' securing its position for the fungus to thrive and eventually release its spores.
💀 The nature of cordyceps is revealed as it grows within the ant, leading to the host's death and the spread of the fungus.
📈 After three weeks, the cordyceps fungus matures and releases its spores, which can infect more ants, perpetuating the cycle.
🐜 Cordyceps can devastate entire ant colonies through this cycle of infection and spore release.
🌏 There are over 600 species of cordyceps worldwide, with most found in jungles where they prey on various hosts.
🐛 Beyond ants, a wide range of organisms are at risk of infection by different species of cordyceps.

Q & A

What role do fungi and slime molds play in the forest ecosystem?
-Fungi and slime molds are decomposers, playing a crucial role in breaking down dead organic matter on the forest floor, thus recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
How many spores can some fungi release per second?
-Some fungi can release up to thirty thousand spores per second, which is a significant rate of dispersal.
What happens if a spore lands in a suitable location and takes root?
-If a spore lands in the right place and takes root, it can colonize a whole new area, potentially leading to the spread of the fungus across a larger region.
What is the nature of the relationship between cordyceps and the ant it infects?
-Cordyceps is a parasitic fungus that infects ants, infiltrating their muscles and taking over their bodies. It manipulates the ant's behavior to ensure its own growth and reproduction.
How does the cordyceps fungus manipulate the ant's behavior?
-The fungus floods the ant's brain with chemicals, effectively drugging and compelling the ant to move to an environment with the right conditions for the fungus to grow.
What is the purpose of the 'death bite' that the infected ant performs?
-The death bite is a behavior induced by the cordyceps fungus to position the ant in a way that is optimal for the release of its spores, ensuring the spread of the infection to other ants.
How long does it take for cordyceps to fully grow and release its spores after infecting an ant?
-It takes about three weeks for the cordyceps fungus to grow to maturity within an infected ant and then release its spores.
What is the potential impact of cordyceps on ant colonies?
-Cordyceps can be devastating to ant colonies, as it can wipe out entire colonies by infecting and killing a large number of ants.
How many species of cordyceps are there, and where are they typically found?
-There are over six hundred species of cordyceps, most of which are found in jungles around the world, where they prey on a variety of hosts.
What other types of organisms are at risk from cordyceps besides ants?
-While ants are a common host, cordyceps can infect a wide range of organisms, indicating that many species are potentially at risk from this parasitic fungus.
What environmental conditions are ideal for the growth of cordyceps within its host?
-The ideal conditions for cordyceps growth include the right amount of light and humidity, which the infected ant is compelled to seek out by the fungus.

Outlines

00:00

🍄 Fungi and Slime Molds: Decomposition and Spore Release

This paragraph describes the role of fungi and slime molds in decomposing dead matter on the forest floor. It highlights the rapid spread of fungi through the release of spores, with the potential to colonize new areas if a single spore lands in favorable conditions. The paragraph also introduces the parasitic nature of the cordyceps fungus, which infects ants and manipulates their behavior, leading to the fungus's growth and spread through the release of its own spores, potentially wiping out entire ant colonies.

🐜 The Cordyceps Ant Parasite: A Lethal Infection

This paragraph delves into the parasitic relationship between the cordyceps fungus and ants. It explains how a spore landing on an ant can lead to a complete takeover of the ant's body by the fungus. The ant is compelled to move to an environment ideal for the fungus's growth, where it eventually clamps down in a death bite, allowing the fungus to mature and release its spores. The cycle continues as more ants are infected, emphasizing the deadly impact of the cordyceps on ant populations.

🌏 Global Threat of Cordyceps: Beyond Ants

The final paragraph broadens the scope of the cordyceps threat, indicating that it is not limited to ants. With over six hundred species of cordyceps spread worldwide, the paragraph suggests that a variety of hosts in jungles are at risk of infection. The ominous tone of the paragraph implies that the reach of the cordyceps fungus is extensive and potentially devastating to a range of species.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Fungi

Fungi are a group of spore-producing organisms that include yeasts, molds, and mushrooms. They play a crucial role in the video's theme as decomposers on the forest floor, breaking down dead organic matter. In the script, fungi are depicted as a race to decompose, highlighting their ecological importance and their ability to spread rapidly through spores.

💡Spores

Spores are reproductive cells that can develop into new organisms without fusion, allowing fungi to propagate. The video emphasizes the prolific nature of spore release, with some fungi releasing up to thirty thousand spores per second, illustrating the rapid spread and colonization capabilities of these organisms.

💡Decompose

Decomposition is the process by which organic substances are broken down into simpler organic matter. In the context of the video, decomposition is central to the life cycle of fungi and slime molds, which decompose dead matter on the forest floor, contributing to nutrient cycling in ecosystems.

💡Cordyceps

Cordyceps is a genus of fungi known for its parasitic behavior on insects, particularly ants. The video script describes how a spore of cordyceps can infect an ant, taking over its body and behavior, ultimately leading to the ant's death. This highlights the parasitic nature of some fungi and their impact on insect populations.

💡Parasite

A parasite is an organism that lives in, with, or on another organism (the host), causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life. The video uses cordyceps as an example of a parasite, which manipulates its host ant to create optimal conditions for its growth and reproduction.

💡Chemicals

In the context of the video, chemicals refer to the substances produced by the cordyceps fungus that alter the behavior of the infected ant. These chemicals 'drug' the ant, compelling it to move to a location with the right conditions for the fungus to grow, showcasing the complex interactions between parasites and their hosts.

💡Infiltrate

To infiltrate means to enter or penetrate gradually. In the script, the cordyceps fungus infiltrates the muscles of the ant, establishing a network of roots within the host's body. This term illustrates the invasive nature of the fungus and its ability to take control of the host.

💡Death Bite

A death bite refers to the act of the infected ant clamping down on a substrate with its mandibles in a way that it cannot release, which is a behavior induced by the cordyceps fungus. This ensures the fungus has a suitable location to grow and release its spores, as depicted in the video.

💡Reveal

In the video, the term 'reveal' is used to describe the moment when the true nature of the cordyceps fungus is exposed, showing its parasitic and deadly impact on the ant. This term is used to build suspense and emphasize the dramatic transformation of the ant due to the infection.

💡Wipe Out

To wipe out means to completely destroy or eliminate something. In the script, the phrase 'Cordyceps can wipe out entire ant colonies' underscores the devastating effect this fungus can have on insect populations, illustrating the power and potential threat of certain fungi.

💡Species

Species refers to a group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding. The video mentions over six hundred species of cordyceps, indicating the diversity and widespread distribution of these fungi, which prey on various hosts in jungles around the world.

Highlights

Fungi and slime molds are in a race to decompose dead matter on the forest floor.

Many fungi spread by releasing spores at a rate of up to thirty thousand a second.

A single spore landing in the right place can colonize a whole new area.

Not all fungi feed on the dead; some are parasitic.

A spore has landed on an ant, causing strange behavior as it infiltrates her muscles with a network of roots.

The ant has been taken over by cordyceps, a parasitic fungus.

Cordyceps floods the ant's brain with chemicals, compelling it to move to conditions ideal for the parasite's growth.

The infected ant is forced to clamp down in a death bite, revealing the gruesome nature of cordyceps.

After three weeks of growth, cordyceps can release its own spores, infecting more ants.

Cordyceps has the potential to wipe out entire ant colonies.

There are over six hundred species of cordyceps spread across the world.

Most cordyceps species are found in jungles, preying on a wide range of victims.

Cordyceps' lifecycle involves a cycle of infection, growth, and spore release that perpetuates its spread.

The parasitic nature of cordyceps highlights the complex relationships within ecosystems.

Cordyceps' ability to manipulate its host for its own reproduction is a fascinating biological phenomenon.

The impact of cordyceps on ant populations can have cascading effects on the forest ecosystem.

The study of cordyceps offers insights into fungal parasitism and its implications for biodiversity.

The transcript raises awareness about the lesser-known fungal species and their ecological roles.