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  3. It's not weird for some species to incorporate toxins from their diet as defenses: poison dart frogs, monarch butterflies, sea slugs, etc

It's not weird for some species to incorporate toxins from their diet as defenses: poison dart frogs, monarch butterflies, sea slugs, etc

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nicotineneurochemistryscienceecology
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  • benroyce@mastodon.socialB This user is from outside of this forum
    benroyce@mastodon.socialB This user is from outside of this forum
    benroyce@mastodon.social
    wrote last edited by
    #1

    It's not weird for some species to incorporate toxins from their diet as defenses: poison dart frogs, monarch butterflies, sea slugs, etc

    But let's get weird and circuitous with it

    #Nicotine was developed by plants to kill insects. As a quirk of #neurochemistry, humans use it addictively, so cigarette butts are everywhere

    Birds have figured out they can use them in their nests to repel insect parasites

    The original intention of nicotine

    Weird!

    Link Preview Image
    ScienceDirect

    favicon

    (www.sciencedirect.com)

    #Science #Ecology

    maryaustinbooks@mstdn.socialM wendinoakland@beige.partyW glutto@mastodon.socialG em_and_future_cats@mastodon.socialE kshernandez@me.dmK 8 Replies Last reply
    1
    0
    • benroyce@mastodon.socialB benroyce@mastodon.social

      It's not weird for some species to incorporate toxins from their diet as defenses: poison dart frogs, monarch butterflies, sea slugs, etc

      But let's get weird and circuitous with it

      #Nicotine was developed by plants to kill insects. As a quirk of #neurochemistry, humans use it addictively, so cigarette butts are everywhere

      Birds have figured out they can use them in their nests to repel insect parasites

      The original intention of nicotine

      Weird!

      Link Preview Image
      ScienceDirect

      favicon

      (www.sciencedirect.com)

      #Science #Ecology

      maryaustinbooks@mstdn.socialM This user is from outside of this forum
      maryaustinbooks@mstdn.socialM This user is from outside of this forum
      maryaustinbooks@mstdn.social
      wrote last edited by
      #2

      @benroyce

      Are we sure the birds aren't just crashing out after reading the New York Times?

      Link Preview Image
      benroyce@mastodon.socialB 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • maryaustinbooks@mstdn.socialM maryaustinbooks@mstdn.social

        @benroyce

        Are we sure the birds aren't just crashing out after reading the New York Times?

        Link Preview Image
        benroyce@mastodon.socialB This user is from outside of this forum
        benroyce@mastodon.socialB This user is from outside of this forum
        benroyce@mastodon.social
        wrote last edited by
        #3

        @MaryAustinBooks

        😂

        you know what?

        you're right

        i removed the nytimes link and replaced it with the linked study from poland

        nytimes link pasted here instead in the comments for posterity:

        https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/18/science/bird-nests-cigarettes.html?unlocked_article_code=1.UFA.F5GS.0LI5710DsNRs

        1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • R relay@relay.an.exchange shared this topic
        • benroyce@mastodon.socialB benroyce@mastodon.social

          It's not weird for some species to incorporate toxins from their diet as defenses: poison dart frogs, monarch butterflies, sea slugs, etc

          But let's get weird and circuitous with it

          #Nicotine was developed by plants to kill insects. As a quirk of #neurochemistry, humans use it addictively, so cigarette butts are everywhere

          Birds have figured out they can use them in their nests to repel insect parasites

          The original intention of nicotine

          Weird!

          Link Preview Image
          ScienceDirect

          favicon

          (www.sciencedirect.com)

          #Science #Ecology

          wendinoakland@beige.partyW This user is from outside of this forum
          wendinoakland@beige.partyW This user is from outside of this forum
          wendinoakland@beige.party
          wrote last edited by
          #4

          @benroyce Lookit, we eat absolutely weird stuff, plenty of it extremely unpleasant until several elaborate transformations (looking at you, olives). That birds have figured out how to harness poisons to their advantage isn’t a surprise.

          benroyce@mastodon.socialB 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • wendinoakland@beige.partyW wendinoakland@beige.party

            @benroyce Lookit, we eat absolutely weird stuff, plenty of it extremely unpleasant until several elaborate transformations (looking at you, olives). That birds have figured out how to harness poisons to their advantage isn’t a surprise.

            benroyce@mastodon.socialB This user is from outside of this forum
            benroyce@mastodon.socialB This user is from outside of this forum
            benroyce@mastodon.social
            wrote last edited by
            #5

            @wendinoakland

            if we anthropomorphized plants they would be flabbergasted by humans

            plants developed capsaicin to set the mouths of mammals eating it on fire as punishment

            it seems like a foolproof devastating repellant. the plant must be proud

            but no

            one mammal, humans, *like* the mouth fire

            crazier, this was not detrimental to the plant, but rewarding. humans began cultivating it. even *increasing* the burn

            you poison us. you cause us pain

            we love you for it. and ask for more

            wendinoakland@beige.partyW 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • benroyce@mastodon.socialB benroyce@mastodon.social

              It's not weird for some species to incorporate toxins from their diet as defenses: poison dart frogs, monarch butterflies, sea slugs, etc

              But let's get weird and circuitous with it

              #Nicotine was developed by plants to kill insects. As a quirk of #neurochemistry, humans use it addictively, so cigarette butts are everywhere

              Birds have figured out they can use them in their nests to repel insect parasites

              The original intention of nicotine

              Weird!

              Link Preview Image
              ScienceDirect

              favicon

              (www.sciencedirect.com)

              #Science #Ecology

              glutto@mastodon.socialG This user is from outside of this forum
              glutto@mastodon.socialG This user is from outside of this forum
              glutto@mastodon.social
              wrote last edited by
              #6

              @benroyce

              Alternately, cigarette butts are so disgusting they can actually repel insects.

              benroyce@mastodon.socialB 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • glutto@mastodon.socialG glutto@mastodon.social

                @benroyce

                Alternately, cigarette butts are so disgusting they can actually repel insects.

                benroyce@mastodon.socialB This user is from outside of this forum
                benroyce@mastodon.socialB This user is from outside of this forum
                benroyce@mastodon.social
                wrote last edited by
                #7

                @glutto

                insects: "you like... poison? *burning* poison?"

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • benroyce@mastodon.socialB benroyce@mastodon.social

                  @wendinoakland

                  if we anthropomorphized plants they would be flabbergasted by humans

                  plants developed capsaicin to set the mouths of mammals eating it on fire as punishment

                  it seems like a foolproof devastating repellant. the plant must be proud

                  but no

                  one mammal, humans, *like* the mouth fire

                  crazier, this was not detrimental to the plant, but rewarding. humans began cultivating it. even *increasing* the burn

                  you poison us. you cause us pain

                  we love you for it. and ask for more

                  wendinoakland@beige.partyW This user is from outside of this forum
                  wendinoakland@beige.partyW This user is from outside of this forum
                  wendinoakland@beige.party
                  wrote last edited by
                  #8

                  @benroyce Mostly. Then there’s cactus. And the plants with urushiol. There are some we can work with, but they’re metal af.

                  benroyce@mastodon.socialB 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • wendinoakland@beige.partyW wendinoakland@beige.party

                    @benroyce Mostly. Then there’s cactus. And the plants with urushiol. There are some we can work with, but they’re metal af.

                    benroyce@mastodon.socialB This user is from outside of this forum
                    benroyce@mastodon.socialB This user is from outside of this forum
                    benroyce@mastodon.social
                    wrote last edited by
                    #9

                    @wendinoakland

                    well we looked at cactus with its hardcore intent to cause pain and said

                    "pretty"

                    but you're right about poison ivy, fuck that plant 😂

                    wendinoakland@beige.partyW 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • benroyce@mastodon.socialB benroyce@mastodon.social

                      @wendinoakland

                      well we looked at cactus with its hardcore intent to cause pain and said

                      "pretty"

                      but you're right about poison ivy, fuck that plant 😂

                      wendinoakland@beige.partyW This user is from outside of this forum
                      wendinoakland@beige.partyW This user is from outside of this forum
                      wendinoakland@beige.party
                      wrote last edited by
                      #10

                      @benroyce Poison oak is the feisty bitch here. Loves to grow right in along with the blackberries.

                      bluedot@left-bank.netB ohmu@social.seattle.wa.usO 2 Replies Last reply
                      0
                      • wendinoakland@beige.partyW wendinoakland@beige.party

                        @benroyce Poison oak is the feisty bitch here. Loves to grow right in along with the blackberries.

                        bluedot@left-bank.netB This user is from outside of this forum
                        bluedot@left-bank.netB This user is from outside of this forum
                        bluedot@left-bank.net
                        wrote last edited by
                        #11

                        @wendinoakland @benroyce

                        Can't live with it. Can't set it on fire.

                        benroyce@mastodon.socialB wendinoakland@beige.partyW 2 Replies Last reply
                        0
                        • bluedot@left-bank.netB bluedot@left-bank.net

                          @wendinoakland @benroyce

                          Can't live with it. Can't set it on fire.

                          benroyce@mastodon.socialB This user is from outside of this forum
                          benroyce@mastodon.socialB This user is from outside of this forum
                          benroyce@mastodon.social
                          wrote last edited by
                          #12

                          @BlueDot @wendinoakland

                          it hates us. can't blame it for that. but we can hate it back!

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • bluedot@left-bank.netB bluedot@left-bank.net

                            @wendinoakland @benroyce

                            Can't live with it. Can't set it on fire.

                            wendinoakland@beige.partyW This user is from outside of this forum
                            wendinoakland@beige.partyW This user is from outside of this forum
                            wendinoakland@beige.party
                            wrote last edited by
                            #13

                            @BlueDot @benroyce I’d rather live a shorter, happier life with the things I enjoy, than live forever missing everything.

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • benroyce@mastodon.socialB benroyce@mastodon.social

                              It's not weird for some species to incorporate toxins from their diet as defenses: poison dart frogs, monarch butterflies, sea slugs, etc

                              But let's get weird and circuitous with it

                              #Nicotine was developed by plants to kill insects. As a quirk of #neurochemistry, humans use it addictively, so cigarette butts are everywhere

                              Birds have figured out they can use them in their nests to repel insect parasites

                              The original intention of nicotine

                              Weird!

                              Link Preview Image
                              ScienceDirect

                              favicon

                              (www.sciencedirect.com)

                              #Science #Ecology

                              em_and_future_cats@mastodon.socialE This user is from outside of this forum
                              em_and_future_cats@mastodon.socialE This user is from outside of this forum
                              em_and_future_cats@mastodon.social
                              wrote last edited by
                              #14

                              @benroyce this stuff always has fascinated me! Also extra tidbit… did you know that hedgehogs 🦔 have learned this too!!! They will take cigarettes, chew them up a bit, then spread their nicotine filled saliva over their bodies 😹
                              (They also do this with creosote) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00zd354

                              And don’t forget about the crows that bathe in formic acid from spitting ants! 😹

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • wendinoakland@beige.partyW wendinoakland@beige.party

                                @benroyce Poison oak is the feisty bitch here. Loves to grow right in along with the blackberries.

                                ohmu@social.seattle.wa.usO This user is from outside of this forum
                                ohmu@social.seattle.wa.usO This user is from outside of this forum
                                ohmu@social.seattle.wa.us
                                wrote last edited by
                                #15

                                @wendinoakland @benroyce
                                Almost no poison oak in the hills and streams is on my top five for moving to western Washington from the Bay Area.

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • benroyce@mastodon.socialB benroyce@mastodon.social

                                  It's not weird for some species to incorporate toxins from their diet as defenses: poison dart frogs, monarch butterflies, sea slugs, etc

                                  But let's get weird and circuitous with it

                                  #Nicotine was developed by plants to kill insects. As a quirk of #neurochemistry, humans use it addictively, so cigarette butts are everywhere

                                  Birds have figured out they can use them in their nests to repel insect parasites

                                  The original intention of nicotine

                                  Weird!

                                  Link Preview Image
                                  ScienceDirect

                                  favicon

                                  (www.sciencedirect.com)

                                  #Science #Ecology

                                  kshernandez@me.dmK This user is from outside of this forum
                                  kshernandez@me.dmK This user is from outside of this forum
                                  kshernandez@me.dm
                                  wrote last edited by
                                  #16

                                  @benroyce Look at nature continuing to teach humans the right way to live.

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • benroyce@mastodon.socialB benroyce@mastodon.social

                                    It's not weird for some species to incorporate toxins from their diet as defenses: poison dart frogs, monarch butterflies, sea slugs, etc

                                    But let's get weird and circuitous with it

                                    #Nicotine was developed by plants to kill insects. As a quirk of #neurochemistry, humans use it addictively, so cigarette butts are everywhere

                                    Birds have figured out they can use them in their nests to repel insect parasites

                                    The original intention of nicotine

                                    Weird!

                                    Link Preview Image
                                    ScienceDirect

                                    favicon

                                    (www.sciencedirect.com)

                                    #Science #Ecology

                                    oldfartrant@mstdn.caO This user is from outside of this forum
                                    oldfartrant@mstdn.caO This user is from outside of this forum
                                    oldfartrant@mstdn.ca
                                    wrote last edited by
                                    #17

                                    @benroyce will it work on politicians?

                                    benroyce@mastodon.socialB 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • oldfartrant@mstdn.caO oldfartrant@mstdn.ca

                                      @benroyce will it work on politicians?

                                      benroyce@mastodon.socialB This user is from outside of this forum
                                      benroyce@mastodon.socialB This user is from outside of this forum
                                      benroyce@mastodon.social
                                      wrote last edited by
                                      #18

                                      @Oldfartrant

                                      unfortunately MAGA likes nicotine chews. so you might attract them

                                      oldfartrant@mstdn.caO 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • benroyce@mastodon.socialB benroyce@mastodon.social

                                        @Oldfartrant

                                        unfortunately MAGA likes nicotine chews. so you might attract them

                                        oldfartrant@mstdn.caO This user is from outside of this forum
                                        oldfartrant@mstdn.caO This user is from outside of this forum
                                        oldfartrant@mstdn.ca
                                        wrote last edited by
                                        #19

                                        @benroyce so you can attract Trump supporters with poison. No wonder the country is fucked.

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • benroyce@mastodon.socialB benroyce@mastodon.social

                                          It's not weird for some species to incorporate toxins from their diet as defenses: poison dart frogs, monarch butterflies, sea slugs, etc

                                          But let's get weird and circuitous with it

                                          #Nicotine was developed by plants to kill insects. As a quirk of #neurochemistry, humans use it addictively, so cigarette butts are everywhere

                                          Birds have figured out they can use them in their nests to repel insect parasites

                                          The original intention of nicotine

                                          Weird!

                                          Link Preview Image
                                          ScienceDirect

                                          favicon

                                          (www.sciencedirect.com)

                                          #Science #Ecology

                                          greensoulbuddy@mastodon.socialG This user is from outside of this forum
                                          greensoulbuddy@mastodon.socialG This user is from outside of this forum
                                          greensoulbuddy@mastodon.social
                                          wrote last edited by
                                          #20

                                          @benroyce I first read: poison dog farts 😂😂😂

                                          benroyce@mastodon.socialB 1 Reply Last reply
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