4 ms·
Aren't they symbiotic if they're doing this rather than parasites?
by billytetrud 5y ago
Aren't they symbiotic if they're doing this rather than parasites?
- bencollier49 5y agoIt's weird. Symbiotic to the ant; parasitic to the hive. But then the ant isn't the reproductive unit.
- freehrtradical 5y agoSymbiotic just means two species living close together. That may be positive (mutualistic), neutral (commensal), or negative (parasitism). However, mutualistic and parasitic may not be mutually exclusive. For examples, see: 1. McKay, D. M. (2009). The therapeutic helminth?. Trends in parasitology, 25(3), 109-114, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2008.11.008 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2008.11.008 2. Zaccone, P., Fehervari, Z., Phillips, J. M., Dunne, D. W., & Cooke, A. (2006). Parasitic worms and inflammatory diseases. Parasite immunology, 28(10), 515-523, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3024.2006.00879.x https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3024.2006.00879.x