Feops
New member
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2009
- Messages
- 829
- MBTI Type
- INTx
Plants seem to have a wide variety in taste based on if they want to be eaten or not. Berries for example have a high incentive to be consumed and spread by various animals, especially birds. Other plants are tough and bitter, or difficult to digest, discouraging casual consumption. Certain animals adapt to eat them anyway but that's besides the point.
Now there are examples of animals with poisoned meat but they seem to be the minority. Many or most prey species have favor becoming difficult targets over removing themselves as targets entirely.
I'm wondering why this is? Has there been any research done on it? There's no reproductive advantage for an animal to be eaten but perhaps there is a long-term advantage to sustained culling of the weaker members? Or, perhaps "meat" is too specialized (compared to various plant matter) and suffers significant drawbacks when altered in a way other animals would find unpalatable?
Now there are examples of animals with poisoned meat but they seem to be the minority. Many or most prey species have favor becoming difficult targets over removing themselves as targets entirely.
I'm wondering why this is? Has there been any research done on it? There's no reproductive advantage for an animal to be eaten but perhaps there is a long-term advantage to sustained culling of the weaker members? Or, perhaps "meat" is too specialized (compared to various plant matter) and suffers significant drawbacks when altered in a way other animals would find unpalatable?