the genus capsicum evolved capsaicin as a defense mechanism against specifically mammalian predators, because the seeds can survive in birds’ stomachs, but not mammalian stomachs. The capsaicin tastes extremely strong to mammalian predators to discourage them from eating the fruit, while it doesn’t bother birds so that birds can eat the seeds and spread them.
this is why you can put cayenne pepper in your bird seed to deter squirrels and raccoons and other mammals
I love this little fact, because evolving capsaicin worked, but not in the way it was “supposed” to. Humans ended up enjoying the burn from capsaicin, and started eating them specifically for it. As a result, there are now huge tracts of land dedicated to humans ensuring that these fruits reproduce effectively.
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(Anonymous) 2015-07-30 09:46 pm (UTC)(link)the genus capsicum evolved capsaicin as a defense mechanism against specifically mammalian predators, because the seeds can survive in birds’ stomachs, but not mammalian stomachs. The capsaicin tastes extremely strong to mammalian predators to discourage them from eating the fruit, while it doesn’t bother birds so that birds can eat the seeds and spread them.
this is why you can put cayenne pepper in your bird seed to deter squirrels and raccoons and other mammals
I love this little fact, because evolving capsaicin worked, but not in the way it was “supposed” to. Humans ended up enjoying the burn from capsaicin, and started eating them specifically for it. As a result, there are now huge tracts of land dedicated to humans ensuring that these fruits reproduce effectively.