5 ms·
A defense mechanism that is triggered by a hormone? Doesn't seem terribly far off
by dickeytk 7y ago
A defense mechanism that is triggered by a hormone? Doesn't seem terribly far off
- droithomme 7y agoHe makes an interesting point. Some plants have a response to rain triggered by a hormone. To ascribe the term panic to it though might possibly be mischaracterizing the response because of the tendency to anthropomorphize.
- danharaj 7y agoOn the other hand, we have many primal and ancient behaviors that can be contextualized on evolutionary timescales so that it can be reasonably said that, yea, a lot of our behaviors have common heritage with even plants.
- nkrisc 7y agoWell we don't really have words to describe plant behavior. I agree, we can't view plants through an animalian lense, but at the same time we have to use the words we have to discuss them. I think it's fair to say plant "panic" is different than animal "panic" but from what I read, panic seems to be the closest analogue.
- phkahler 7y agoIs our immune response to a pathogen considered panic? I think not.
- jadell 7y agoA chemical reaction that sets of a string of defensive protection reactions and behaviors? Sounds quite like panic to me. It's basically "fight or flight" for plants except plants can't do the "flight" part.
- narag 7y agoPanic is not the same as fear. Panic (insert here mythological reference to god Pan) is a kind of fear that causes uncontrolled, irrational and often counterproductive behaviour. Is that the case?
- jcranberry 7y ago'uncontrolled and irrational' is only a bad thing in the context of human rationality and self control. plants obviously do not have such a thing--all their actions are primal and unmoderated. So panic for a plant would probably mean something like an immediate response to adverse stimuli, with an immediate and short-term goal of self-preservation.
- lonelappde 7y ago"panic" means to react in a counterproductive way because fear overwhelms. It's different from a mere adrenal response that has short term gain at long term risk. Adrenaline makes you jump higher. Panic makes you jump off a cliff.
- BurningFrog 7y agoExcept "panic" means an ultimately self destructive overreaction. At least in my personal dictionary.
- quixoticelixer- 7y agoNot all of us use your personal dictionary.
- mikekchar 7y agoAre there times when "panic" is an appropriate response to something? I mean it is often an understandable response, but I have to agree that my understanding of the term is that is a response to being overwhelmed and responding haphazardly as a result. Is that an accurate description of what's happening? The actual article is a bit light to really understand. I wonder if it's the "chain reaction" across individual trees that is what they are describing as "panic".
- undreren 7y agoJust because it is a hard to name a concrete situation, where panic is a good survival strategy for the individual, it can not be concluded that nature is not ripe with situations, where panic saves the flock. Also, it would seem that the panic response is evolved for the benefit of the flock, not the individual, as it spreads rapidly; if one person panics, more will follow suit.
- hoseja 7y agoSay, when you are being chased by a lion.
- coldtea 7y ago>Are there times when "panic" is an appropriate response to something? Yes. When something is panic inducing. Note that the bad connotations of panic are for not panic worthy situations (e.g. don't panic when you just lost your wallet, etc). But when chased by a predator, a panic response is a good, and evolutionary created, way, to get from 0-60 mph adrenaline and speed wise... A gazelle doesn't sit still and weigh the situation calmly. It panics and starts to run for its life...
- dmurray 7y agoAlmost every biological reaction is triggered or mediated by a hormone. I'd expect "panic" to mean a reaction that makes the plant more alert or able to act faster.