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Re: Nightshades
Thanks for the insight, all. I've noticed that wild animals including birds
usually do not "pig out" on one type of food but eat a mixture. Had wondered
about that. On the other hand many domestic animals will "founder" (don't
know where that word comes from but was used where I grew up) if they get
into a crop field.
Reece Mitchell
Flat Rock, NC
rmitche2@tds.net
----- Original Message -----
From: "Janine Perlman" <jpandjf@ix.netcom.com>
To: "Reece Mitchell" <rmitche2@tds.net>; "BILL HILTON JR Hilton Pond Center
for Piedmont Natural History" <hilton@hiltonpond.org>; "CAROLINA BIRDS"
<carolinabirds@duke.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2001 6:41 PM
Subject: Nightshades
> Martin, Zim, and Nelson report that the fruit of Solanum spp. is eaten by
a
> wide variety of wildlife, from mammals to birds, and that the leaves are
> eaten by some mammals, especially rodents. None of them is reported to
eat
> the fruit or leaves in great quantities.
>
> Interesting, no? It reinforces the concept that quantity is crucial. The
> array of phytochemicals in nature is dazzling. Birds are known to
carefully
> choose a variety of fruits, because they all have both valuable nutrients
> and chemicals that are undesirable/toxic. (Most 'desirable' nutrients are
> detrimental, too, when consumed in excess.) Animals obviously don't
want
> to eat too much toxic stuff, but it also seems likely that enzymes that
> detoxify the 'poisons' are induced, to the benefit of the animal, with
> low-level toxin ingestion.
>
> Janine Perlman
> Hillsborough, NC
>