Some time ago we told you about a research conducted on wasps orientalisthe so-called red hornets, according to which these insects can drink more alcohol than any other animal without getting drunk.
The study, led byIndian Institute of Science, Bangalore (India), showed that they can even spend an entire week drinking an 80 percent alcohol solution without any behavioral changes.
In reality, many animals naturally consume low concentrations of ethanol, a habit that has both advantages and disadvantages.
The study “The evolutionary ecology of ethanol”, published in “Trends in Ecology & Evolution”, explains that alcohol has been available in nature since time immemorial, since the Cretaceous. It happened when plants began to produce flowers and fruits, which fermented and produced ethanol.
Monkeys, elephants and hamsters are among the animals that appreciate it most, but certainly not the only ones that consume it. However, considering that it negatively affects their abilities, especially in high concentrations, scholars have tried to understand why they continue to consume (and seek) it.
There could be many reasons: on the one hand the nutritional value of alcohol, on the other some of its medicinal properties and last but not least the fact that it increases the production of endorphins and dopamine, promoting a state of relaxation useful in terms of sociality.
Ultimately, this research demonstrates that ethanol is neither rare nor avoided by animals in nature. And although it may be toxic, it also reveals advantages, which is why according to researchers we should reconsider its ecological role and evolutionary impact in nature, investigating the topic with further studies.
SOURCE: Trends in Ecology & Evolution
