Chapter 10 Assignment: Behavior Immunity
Natural selection results in fitness strategies that allow organisms to avoid infection from pathogens and parasites. All organisms have an internal immune system, however, an organism’s behavior can also increase its immunity to foreign pathogens and parasites. Oftentimes, these behaviors include borrowing immune defenses from other organisms. Behavioral immunity can be seen in many primate species. Chimpanzees eat leaves from the Aspila plant that contain thiarubine-A, a chemical that kills parasitic worms and fungi residing in the intestinal tract. Additionally, capuchin monkeys utilize the immune defenses from millipedes. Millipedes contain noxious compounds called benzoquinones that repel mosquitos.
Natural selection results in fitness strategies that allow organisms to avoid infection from pathogens and parasites. All organisms have an internal immune system, however, an organism’s behavior can also increase its immunity to foreign pathogens and parasites. Oftentimes, these behaviors include borrowing immune defenses from other organisms. Behavioral immunity can be seen in many primate species. Chimpanzees eat leaves from the Aspila plant that contain thiarubine-A, a chemical that kills parasitic worms and fungi residing in the intestinal tract. Additionally, capuchin monkeys utilize the immune defenses from millipedes. Millipedes contain noxious compounds called benzoquinones that repel mosquitos.