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Hmm...can/does an ecosystem exist without parasites?

Parasite meaning something taking more out of a system than giving back to it. Fear might not even be experienced or required or involved as with our gut parasites.

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I imagine such an ecosystem could exist for a short time, but the prevalence of parasitism also points out how viable it is as a kind of shortcut for life. Perhaps the more terrifying thing to consider is how many species were driven to extinction by parasites that were just a bit too aggressive in how they affected their host, which also would likely result in the parasite's extinction as well.

Life isn't a happy numbers game by any means.

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