Alas, ticks like all parasites, are vital members of the biological community. Their effects (and appearances) horrify us, but they function like other predators: they strengthen the genetic stock of their prey (hosts). "Parasites have probably been driving the evolution of their hosts since the dawn of time itself." (see ref. below) Ticks fit into the web of life just like all the other plants and animals (and fungi, protists and bacteria). That being said, I have no problem killing the ones that try to feed on me or my dogs.
"By keeping their hosts from passing on their genes, parasites create an intense natural selection...A lot of the evolution that results takes place where you'd expect it: in the immune system, which defends animals from invaders. But it also brings out things that seem at first to have nothing to do with diseases. There's growing evidence that parasites are responsible for the fact that we, and many other animals, have sex. The tail of the peacock, and other devices that males use to attract females, may be brought to us thanks to parasites. Parasites may have shaped societies of animals ranging from ants to monkeys."
Carl Zimmer, Parasite Rex, Simon and Schuster 2000. p159.
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timeasmymeasure
Alexis calls this my "novel"
Date: 2005-07-12 02:43 pm (UTC)"By keeping their hosts from passing on their genes, parasites create an intense natural selection...A lot of the evolution that results takes place where you'd expect it: in the immune system, which defends animals from invaders. But it also brings out things that seem at first to have nothing to do with diseases. There's growing evidence that parasites are responsible for the fact that we, and many other animals, have sex. The tail of the peacock, and other devices that males use to attract females, may be brought to us thanks to parasites. Parasites may have shaped societies of animals ranging from ants to monkeys."
Carl Zimmer, Parasite Rex, Simon and Schuster 2000. p159.