"Invasive Ants' Impact on Lion Prey Dynamics in Kenya"

The invasion of big-headed ants in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya has disrupted the mutualistic relationship between native acacia trees and ants, leading to a cascade of ecological changes. The ants have wiped out native ant populations, leaving the trees vulnerable to elephants, resulting in a landscape transformation with fewer trees and more open grasslands. This has impacted the hunting success of lions and the diet of endangered black rhinos. Efforts to control the ant invasion and monitor ecological changes are ongoing, with the added wildcard of a warming and drying climate.