Bee bandits: How a yeast influences nectar-robbing behavior in bumble bees

From fundamental biological units as tiny as genes to complex societies, ecological systems rely on cooperation. All manner of organisms can benefit from working together to survive in a dog-eat-dog world. "Mutualism is a common example of interspecies cooperation," says Utah State University ecologist Valerie Martin. "Scientists have long studied mutualisms between plants and pollinators, but understanding their origin and maintenance remains a challenge. Curiously, exploitative behaviors—including cheating—are rampant among mutualists and we're trying to understand why."