Ecology
Herbivory Defense
Adaptations that reduce herbivore damage to plants, including physical structures (thorns, tough leaves) and chemical defenses (toxins, unpalatable compounds).
Biological Context
Plants evolved defenses against herbivores: thorns deter browsers, silica makes grasses abrasive, alkaloids and tannins are toxic or reduce digestibility. Herbivores counter-evolved detoxification abilities, driving evolutionary arms races. Defenses can be constitutive (always present) or induced (produced after attack).
Business Application
Business herbivory defenses: IP protection, switching costs, customer loyalty programs, and regulatory moats protect against competitive 'grazing' of market share.