Fernando Rossine, Princeton University (IMAGE)
Caption
When threatened with starvation, slime molds aggregate into towers topped with slimy spheres that stick to passing insects, which carry the spores out into the world. But new research shows that up to a third of slime mold amobae are 'loners' that hang back from assembling into one of these swaying towers. Those loners serve an ecological purpose, say Fernando Rossine (seen here) and his colleagues: when most of a community is rushing in one direction, the few who hang back may protect the whole population.
Credit
Photo by Elisa Klüger, Princeton University
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