Physically isolating organisms from disease agents should reduce the likelihood of disease transmission and infection, and increase survival and growth, particularly in more vulnerable, early ontogenetic stages. During ...

Asexual reproduction imposes evolutionary handicaps on asexual species, rendering them prone to extinction, because asexual reproduction generates novel genotypes and purges deleterious mutations at lower rates than sexual ...

To combat disease, most fungus-growing ants (Attini) use antibiotics from mutualistic bacteria () that are cultured on the ants' exoskeletons and chemical cocktails from exocrine glands, especially the metapleural ...