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

2 points by Lucadg 6 years ago | 7 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!

Libeste 6 years 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.

Lucadg 6 years 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?

Libeste 6 years 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

jimparkins 6 years ago |

Beaver dams

Lucadg 6 years ago | |

Thanks, interesting

fullmoon888 6 years ago |

The Matrix! Harvesting humans in silos to extract energy

Lucadg 6 years ago | |

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