Ask HN: An organism which creates an ecosystem to feed on it

2 pointsLucadg5y ago7 comments

Thinking about platforms as Amazon, Uber or Facebook I'm wondering if we can find similar dynamics in nature.

Parasites feed on top of bigger organisms but nothing comes to mind about organisms which create or facilitate and ecosystem and then control it and feed on it.

It would be a powerful analogy.

Thanks!

7 comments

Libeste5y ago

The word you're looking for is 'Cultivation.'

You've basically described farming and ranching. Plenty of analogies there, though many of them have already been used.

LucadgOP5y ago

that's a good one thanks! One aspect which does not fit too much it the fact that the farmer cuts the plants to eat them and the rancher kills the animals. Uber or Airbnb don't kill the users, they keep them alive and extract a part of the value created.

I think I got it thanks to you tough: milking cows.

Does it work? Too harsh?

Libeste5y ago

There's also orchards, and beekeeping, raising chickens for eggs might qualify.

As well as this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphid#Ant_mutualism

jimparkins5y ago

Beaver dams

LucadgOP5y ago

Thanks, interesting

fullmoon8885y ago

The Matrix! Harvesting humans in silos to extract energy

LucadgOP5y ago

The Matrix is better, humans just sleep there :) In Uber, Airbnb or Amazon they need to work!

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

Ask HN: An organism which creates an ecosystem to feed on it

2 pointsLucadg5y ago7 comments

Thinking about platforms as Amazon, Uber or Facebook I'm wondering if we can find similar dynamics in nature.

Parasites feed on top of bigger organisms but nothing comes to mind about organisms which create or facilitate and ecosystem and then control it and feed on it.

It would be a powerful analogy.

Thanks!