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Article: LEAF IT TO US!(how animals use leaves)
- Article from:
- Ranger Rick
- Article date:
- November 1, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 National Wildlife Federation. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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You won't believe what these animals do with leaves.
It's no surprise that many animals eat leaves. Leaves don't run. They don't hide. Plus, there are billions and billions of them. But wait . . .
There are many ways to use leaves besides eating them. For example, there's gardening. That's what leaf-cutter ants use them for. First, they snip pieces of leaves from a tree with their sharp jaws. Then, as shown in the big photo, they carry the pieces to their underground nest.
In the nest, other ants will chew the leaf pieces into tiny, soggy clumps. Next, they'll plant a few strands of fungus from their garden on each one. The fungus grows, and ...