Research Advances in Mutualistic Relationship Between Ants and Plants

The mutual utilization of plants and ants is a hot topic in the field of ecology and biological coevolution, which has been widely concerned by researchers. Based on the review of the research progress about the interactions between ants and plants, it is found that ants play an important role in seed dispersal, pollination as well as protection for plants, and plants also play an critical role for ants in nest and food supplying. While there are still many unknown problems in this field currently, and the research in this field is also relatively inadequate in China. Four significant research directions in the relationship between ants and plants are raised in this paper, in view of the abundant biological resources of China, the deeper and comprehensive research can bring about profound results.