Conflicts Between Organisms
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A. KRISHNA MURTHY & V. PRANITHA ConflictsOrganisms between Conflicts are an integral part of the animal kingdom’s struggle for survival and, of course, supremacy Feature Article Feature O say that all organisms are in harmony “adopted and cared” more ants there are with a specific Maculinea alcon is far from true. There are conflicts for by the ants who chemical profile, the more heavily they Tbetween creatures and scientists mistake them for their were infected, showing that the butterflies have been studying these from time to own young. had adapted to take advantage of time. The purposes of these fights may be Caterpillars prevalent ants. varied, such as tricking others to help them, achieve this by bug eating strategies, storing future food, mimicking the surface chemistry of the Bizarre Sex Life of African Bat ensuring the existence of one’s own ants. Getting this chemistry right is Bug species and so on. There are also instances important. If an ant does not recognize a Sexual relationships between humans may where exploitation takes place for a bizarre caterpillar as one of its own, it will eat it, be complicated but they sex life. Some such incredible examples says David Nash, a Zoologist at the University are nothing compared to have been briefly narrated here. of Copenhagen in Denmark. Successfully adopted caterpillars are bad for the ant the bizarre sex life of the Battle of Butterflies and Ants colonies as ants may neglect their own African bat bug, the British Butterflies trick ants into raising their young young in favour of intruders. weekly New Scientist ones. Researchers have found that this But the ants are fighting back. “The reports. Renowned tricking is also driving an evolutionary arms ant larvae seem to be evolving as a result entomologists studying a race between the two species. This of being parasitized,” says Dr. Nash. Nash particularly horrible form of discovery is important for the conservation and his colleagues tracked the ongoing reproduction have found of rare Alkan blue butterflies. According conflict at several sites in Denmark, where that African bat bugs show to the scientists, Maculinea alcon caterpillars infiltrated the nests of two types “what could be the most butterflies infect the nests of Myrmica ants of ants: Myrmica rubna and Myrmica extreme form of trans-sexualism yet to be by hatching caterpillars that will be ruginodis. The researchers found that the discovered. Male bats never use the TheThe MonarchMonarch butterflybutterfly needsneeds venomvenom forfor aa “The ant larvae specialspecial purposepurpose duringduring thethe seasonalseasonal seem to be evolving migrationmigration toto coveringcovering aa distancedistance upup toto as a result of being 3,4003,400 km.km. parasitized” SCIENCE REPORTER, OCTOBER 2011 3434 FFFeaeaeaturetureture Article vagina, and instead pierce the female’s abdomen and inseminate directly into the blood, from where the sperms swim to the ovaries. As a response, female bat bugs have evolved defence mechanism—they grow paragenital structures on their abdomen that limit the damage by guiding the male’s penis into a spongy area full of immune cells. Klaus Reinhardt, University of Sheffield, Northern England, the leader of the team, As the caterpillar eats a neem leaf, studied the bugs in a cave on mount there is something in its saliva that Elgan, Kenya. They were stunned to find reacts with the leafy matter that males had been using penises to stab other males in an attempt at copulation exposing the latter. As a resulresultt a and many had a scarred abdomen as a whole array of volatile substances, result. In response to this many males had an odour bouquet, gets sensed by been growing their own version of the defence genitalia to protect themselves the passing wasp. from other males. Stranger still, when the team looked at 43 preserved female bat bugs, they found that 84% of them had male versions conservation efforts in hot climates. of organic materials such as paper, of the defence genitalia. Females with Biotechnology can unleash a Bacillus to canvas, wood and leather are especially this male version had less scarring due to explode the guts of beetles that damage prone to decay in warm and tropical lower penetration than other males. A paintings, frescoes and tapestries, a countries because of insects, fungus and battle seen across many species, known gathering of scientists and curators in bacteria. as intralocus sexual conflicts, occurs when Venezuela were told. Jose–Luis Ramirez, genes for a trait, good for the breeding of director of the University’s program for Wasp versus Caterpillar one sex but bad for the other, sparks an biotechnology for Latin America and As the caterpillar eats a neem leaf, there evolutionary tug of war between the Caribbeans, disclosed that certain bugs is something in its saliva that reacts with the sexes. once harnessed are cheap and effective leafy matter exposing the latter. As a result Reinhardt has described it as a against humidity and insects. We can use a whole array of volatile substances, an spectacular example of evolution through toxins produced by some bugs to counter odour bouquet, is sensed by the passing sexual conflict. New Scientist says, “Males other pests and fungus. You don’t need wasp. The latter is attracted and sits on the started getting nobbled by other males, sophisticated equipment to protect great caterpillar and deposits its eggs on the so they evolved the female defensive works of heritage, all you need are bugs. herbivore. Biologists describe this incident genitalia. As this reduced the amount of The latter are cheaper and safer and as “the biological equivalent of a time penis damage they were getting, females effective alternative to chemicals. bomb” (Science, 1977). evolved the male version of male genitals.” One of the conference stars is Bacillus The emerging larvae devour the thuringiensis that forms toxin crystals caterpillar. The undamaged leaf portion Bug–eat–bug Strategy to harmless to humans but deadly to insects. does not put on the scent when the Conserve Art Treasures When ingested, the toxin forms a pore in caterpillar attacks the leaves. The scent Scientists have recruited bugs to kill other the insect’s gut resulting in swelling. produced has as many as 23 different insects and microorganisms that infect art “Eventually it makes their guts explode,” volatile compounds. In conflicts most and cultural treasures, boosting said Mr. Ramirez. Cultural treasures made beetles exhibit some type of chemical war 35 SCIENCE REPORTER, OCTOBER 2011 Feature Article mighty throws a challenge to the leader When rival male storks of another group of gorillas. Sometimes fight, the winner poses the challenge is accepted by the leader of the rival group. For it might be like a victor demanding harbouring the ambition of becoming the obedience from the master of a greater area and more loser. Later the loser subjects. When it turns up to pick up the surrenders feeling gauntlet in response to the cries “ho – ho – insecure. So it turns ho - ….” reverberating in the forest, the leader confronts the challenge eyeball to its neck backwards to eyeball. Then the latter threateningly asks show its humble and the opponent whether it is aware of the peace loving nature. dire consequences that are awaiting this impudence. Not only words in gorilla language are exchanged but contestants show their strength with appropriate body language like standing up to their full height, thumping legs, grimacing and beating their chests with fists. If the rival still holds the ground instead of withdrawing, the challenger snaps thick branches of the trees and throws them at the rival’s feet to demonstrate its strength as telling, “Got an idea of my Herculean strength, now?” Ultimately the rival leader is convinced of the superior strength of its opponent and the duel is avoided. The foregoing examples are incredible but true. One overall result of conflicts is biological evolution of species. Speaking about the world of insects, finally, Nature has endowed venom as a defensive weapon to very few insects except the bee and wasp. Why has nature been partial towards these insects? The underlying purpose is to ensure their existence. The Monarch butterfly needs venom for a special purpose during the seasonal migration (covering a distance up to 3,400 km). The problem of these butterflies is to play when threatened by predators; some that someone may pick up quarrel with it. keep from falling prey to the insect-eating release foul smelling chemicals while So it turns its neck backwards to show its birds on the way. To get over this problem others shield themselves with a mixture of humble and peace loving nature. the monarchs make use of a toxic plant body fluid, which forces the predators to Birds also have their own territories in called milkweed growing in Mexico. While spit out the beetle due to bad tasting forests and the country side. They do not in the caterpillar stage the insects eat the poisonous blood. Still other members of fail to give a public notice of their private leaves of the milkweed, gradually this class of warrior beetles secrete property at regular intervals. Black bird, a assimilating its toxicity which is inherited by substances causing instant itching. native of North America, employs a ruse the future generations. As a result, each Furthermore, it causes blistering of the skin to acquire territory it repeatedly visits. monarch becomes inedible for the birds. of the enemy who is then forced to give Perching on the top of the tree it lets its Hence, no bird would try to molest a up the idea of making a meal of this nasty musical notes flow in different tunes at monarch again once it has tasted the morsel.