- immune function
- toxin production
- escape
- armor and shell production
- thorns and structural defenses
- territorial behavior
- antimicrobial compounds
Operational definition
Allocation function.
Investment that reduces the probability or consequence of predation, infection, parasitism, competition, resource theft, or physical damage.
It includes:
- immune activity;
- toxins;
- shells;
- thorns;
- antimicrobial compounds;
- escape behavior;
- territorial defense;
- induced defensive responses.
Defense may be constitutive, induced, structural, chemical, or behavioral.