Coevolution
Coevolution
Coevolution (/koʊˌiːvəˈluːʃən/) is a biological concept that refers to the change of two or more species in close association with each other, such as predator and prey or a parasite and its host.
Etymology
The term "coevolution" is derived from the prefix "co-", meaning together, and "evolution", which refers to the process of change in all forms of life over generations. The term was coined by Paul R. Ehrlich and Peter H. Raven in 1964.
Definition
Coevolution is the process where two or more species reciprocally affect each other's evolution. This is often the result of natural selection or other evolutionary pressures. The species involved in coevolution can evolve together, or one may evolve in response to the other.
Examples
One of the most well-known examples of coevolution is the relationship between flowering plants and their pollinators. Other examples include the coevolution of predators and their prey, and parasites and their hosts.
Related Terms
- Mutualism: A type of symbiotic relationship where both species benefit from the interaction.
- Parasitism: A non-mutual symbiotic relationship between species, where one species, the parasite, benefits at the expense of the other, the host.
- Symbiosis: A close and long-term biological interaction between two different biological organisms.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Coevolution
- Wikipedia's article - Coevolution
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