Question

In: Biology

Explain how coevolution can be a force in competitive, parasitic and mutualistic relationships.

Explain how coevolution can be a force in competitive, parasitic and mutualistic relationships.

Solutions

Expert Solution

Solution

  • The term coevolution is used to describe cases where two (or more) species reciprocally affect each other's evolution.

  • So for example, an evolutionary change in the morphology of a plant, might affect the morphology of an herbivore that eats the plant, which in turn might affect the evolution of the plant, which might affect the evolution of the herbivore...and so on.

    Coevolution is likely to happen when different species have close ecological interactions with one another. These ecological relationships include:

  • Predator/prey and parasite/host
  • Competitive species
  • Mutualistic species
  • Plants and insects represent a classic case of coevolution — one that is often, but not always, mutualistic. Many plants and their pollinators are so reliant on one another and their relationships are so exclusive that biologists have good reason to think that the "match" between the two is the result of a coevolutionary process.
  • But we can see exclusive "matches" between plants and insects even when pollination is not involved.
  • Some Central American Acacia species have hollow thorns and pores at the bases of their leaves that secrete nectar (see image at right). These hollow thorns are the exclusive nest-site of some species of ant that drink the nectar. But the ants are not just taking advantage of the plant — they also defend their acacia plant against herbivores.
  • This system is probably the product of coevolution: the plants would not have evolved hollow thorns or nectar pores unless their evolution had been affected by the ants, and the ants would not have evolved herbivore defense behaviors unless their evolution had been affected by the plants.

Related Solutions

Discuss one way fungi interact with another organism in a parasitic or mutualistic way.
Discuss one way fungi interact with another organism in a parasitic or mutualistic way.
How can a force (e.g., a muscle force or a gravitational force) produce a translatory and...
How can a force (e.g., a muscle force or a gravitational force) produce a translatory and a linear force simultaneously?
How Can Brands Build Successful Relationships with Influencers? Please explain with cited sources.
How Can Brands Build Successful Relationships with Influencers? Please explain with cited sources.
How can teachers build relationships with their students?
How can teachers build relationships with their students?
Water is both a powerful force and critical to an organism’s survival. Explain how this can...
Water is both a powerful force and critical to an organism’s survival. Explain how this can be true of water, by providing a detailed example of each situation (including the chemistry aspect as needed). There is a wide variety of survival strategies used by terrestrial organisms. Explain the difference between ectotherms and endotherms, and an example organism for each. Many organisms live in environments that experience large changes, giving them seasons. Explain the differences between diapause, hibernation, and torpor. Provide...
Explain how the ABS Labour Force Survey can be used by an organisation to assist in...
Explain how the ABS Labour Force Survey can be used by an organisation to assist in workforce planning.
Explain how communication and intercultural relationships work?
Explain how communication and intercultural relationships work?
Can you use linear regression framework to model non-linear relationships? Explain how.
Can you use linear regression framework to model non-linear relationships? Explain how.
discuss any five types of supplier relationship using examples to explain how the relationships can be...
discuss any five types of supplier relationship using examples to explain how the relationships can be applied in business transactions
Bernoulli's principle can be used to explain the lift force on an airplane wing. How must...
Bernoulli's principle can be used to explain the lift force on an airplane wing. How must an airplane's wing be designed to ensure that Bernoulli's principle is applicable? Bernoulli's principle can be used to explain the lift force on an airplane wing. How must an airplane's wing be designed to ensure that Bernoulli's principle is applicable? A. Airplane wings must be designed to ensure that air molecules move more rapidly past the bottom surface of the wing, creating a region...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT