Zombie ant graveyard dynamics in Gunung Mulu National Park

Research on Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, a fungus that infects ants and controls their behavior to form 'zombie ant graveyards,' reveals that infected ants in Gunung Mulu National Park are found at higher elevations (28.9–57.6 cm) than previously documented in similar studies. This variation suggests that the optimal height for spore dispersal and fungal growth may be influenced by local environmental factors such as temperature and humidity. The study systematically mapped the spatial dynamics of infected ants across four sites, providing new insights into the ecological adaptability of this parasitic fungus in Bornean rainforests.

Lavery, M. N., Murphy, C. F. H., & Bowman, E. K. (2021). Zombie ant graveyard dynamics in Gunung Mulu National Park. Reinvention: An International Journal of Undergraduate Research, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.31273/reinvention.v14i1.704