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Well, if you look at it from the ecosystem's standpoint, it's just a check or balance. But the fungus is, like pretty much all life, acting in its own self-inte
by devindotcom 12y ago
Well, if you look at it from the ecosystem's standpoint, it's just a check or balance. But the fungus is, like pretty much all life, acting in its own self-interest. The trees don't even have to "consent" to this — it seems that it's more likely that a fungus is acting as a sort of benevolent parasite than that very different trees have established some kind of cross-platform messaging system that uses a third, very different type of organism as a mediator. It's just simpler to me to think that the fungus is acting on its own and it ends up being a net gain for everyone involved.
- schiffern 12y ago>The trees don't even have to "consent" to this The trees benefit as well — the fungus gives minerals, and in exchange the trees give sugars. It's a transaction. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycorrhiza#Sugar-water.2Fmineral_exchange https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycorrhiza#Sugar-water.2Fminer... >benevolent parasite The word you're looking for is "symbiosis". It seems like you're trying hard to view this through a lens of competition instead of cooperation.
- devindotcom 12y agoI'm aware of the word, I chose to say something different. Why is competition a "lens" I must see through?
- deleted 12y ago[deleted]