Okay, folks, I've been asked for it, and here it is: the spoiler party for Feed. Anything goes in the comments on this post only. If you haven't read the book, I ask that you not click. If you have, feel free to jump in, ask questions, discuss, or just yell at me. I'm cool either way.
I'd guess it would have a predator-prey relationship with the non-active ecosystem. I'd have to dig out my population models, since the virus acts opposite the way a predator does*. We'd also have to assume that zombies could eventually be killed by something other than humans with shotguns -- maybe if they don't eat enough, the virus exhausts its host's energy and can't keep the corpse moving. It was mentioned that the government lab zombies were what kept the last ranchers in business.
* In other words, when the zombies get scarce relative to their food supply, they zombify more of their prey, so they reproduce more. A conventional predator reproduces more when their numbers are higher.
May 12 2010, 00:19:19 UTC 7 years ago
* In other words, when the zombies get scarce relative to their food supply, they zombify more of their prey, so they reproduce more. A conventional predator reproduces more when their numbers are higher.
May 14 2010, 14:57:50 UTC 7 years ago