Only logged in members can reply and interact with the post.
Join SimilarWorlds for FREE 禄

How did Batesian mimicry come about?

Mimicry in butterflies makes sense to me because they are related closely but I don't get things like ant mimics, was it just an anomaly?
SatanBurger36-40, F
So I'm not a scientist and these are just my thoughts but what if Batesian mimicry is parasitic driven? Apparently someone else asked that question also. I looked it up because that's the first thing that came to my mind.

https://biology.stackexchange.com/questions/373/is-batesian-mimicry-a-form-a-parasitism-to-what-extent-is-the-species-with-real

However, someone else answered and said no it wouldn't but it sounds like it could be plausible. I was reading the other day that parasites were thought to be "leeches" so they weren't really studied but new research shows that parasites had a bigger role in our evolution than once thought. It was related to how parasites drive procreation to force evolution and some other weird but really cool stuff that no one else likes but me lol 馃槅

http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150127-what-if-all-the-pests-vanished

[quote]As well as helping keep populations in check, parasites have a longer-term effect: they power the evolution of new species. Yes, really: we have parasites to thank for much of the diversity of life on Earth.

That's because hosts and parasites are in a constant evolutionary arms race, which pushes both of them to get better at surviving. "When hosts and parasites interact it's really fertile ground for co-evolution," says Morran. "This host-parasite co-evolution is responsible for a massive amount of evolutionary change in the history of life on earth."[/quote]
Jackaloftheazuresand26-30, M
@SatanBurger In some cases the mimics are the parasite.
The how of the situation not as much interest for me as why, why do they become mimics? Why not some other adaptation, I guess this goes into the broadness of all evolution and physics and reality then. Why do some things go one way and others go another?
SatanBurger36-40, F
@Jackaloftheazuresand I can understand, I don't really know a why and wondered the same about other stuff in evolution. For me it's fascinating but don't have an answer. Nature is just crazy, it reminds me of Frankenstein's monster but that's not really a bad thing. More of a compliment 馃槅
Miram31-35, F
maybe a skill developed to avoid predators that don't eat ants?
I am not sure I understand what it's about.
Jackaloftheazuresand26-30, M
@Miram That appears to be why they survived to this point along with the fact that some use it to eat ants as well so they aren't swarmed. What I don't get is how it started in the first place since the animals have no choice to change their shape.
Miram31-35, F
@Jackaloftheazuresand were you watching a documentary?
Jackaloftheazuresand26-30, M
@Miram A youtube channel called antscanada

 
Post Comment