Multi-Species Canopy Latrines in Costa Rican Cloud Forests(onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Multi-Species Canopy Latrines in Costa Rican Cloud Forests
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.72964
12 comments
> a big blindspot for western science
Which scientific tradition ought one consult where this subject has been foregrounded?
Which scientific tradition ought one consult where this subject has been foregrounded?
You can search microbiome and the name of animal which you want to know about it.
DNA sequencing is applying to any biology region.
> The fact that an estimated 50% to 90% of forest terrestrial life exists in the canopy lives rent free in my head.
It's the same reason most sea life is concentrated near the air.
> Well imagine if you literally grew algae, fungi, bacteria, and even MOTHS on your fur
You do literally grow bacteria on your fur. You're doing it right now.
It's the same reason most sea life is concentrated near the air.
> Well imagine if you literally grew algae, fungi, bacteria, and even MOTHS on your fur
You do literally grow bacteria on your fur. You're doing it right now.
But not algae, fungi, and MOTHS
It's very common for people to grow fungi too, though generally inside their flesh.
I tend to suspect that growing MOTHS on your fur is similar to growing maggots on your open wound.
I tend to suspect that growing MOTHS on your fur is similar to growing maggots on your open wound.
I guess toenails can have fungi too...
We have much to learn from canopy latrines. For example, unlike these noble creatures of the rain forest, my dog struggles to properly use a bidet.
Maybe if I put it on the roof it might all finally come together.
In all seriousness though, what a life for these researchers, climbing trees and checking shit.
In all seriousness though, what a life for these researchers, climbing trees and checking shit.
It has been known for a while that a wide range of land animals use shared latrines. There are signs that they act as a kind of billboard that lets all around rate activity levels, check on big players in the area, and smell the spread of disease. That this pattern is present above the land makes it an extremely common adaptation.
I love this kind of shit
If you learned about the human microbiome and that we (sometimes) have more germs in our bodies than our own cells—you probably got a strong feeling that this must be an extremely important aspect of our biology that has largely gone unconsidered. Well imagine if you literally grew algae, fungi, bacteria, and even MOTHS on your fur
Ecological adaptations that cross the boundary between the macro- and micro- animal world have been a big blindspot for western science and I'm excited to see more attention and effort finally allotted to these parts of nature