Biology: coevolution

Tutoring biology, ideas about evolution arise. The tutor mentions coevolution.

Coevolution is the concept that two species evolve parallel with each other; it could be due to a combative or cooperative relationship. If one imagines the two coevolving species to be A and B, then coevolution works as follows: to respond to pressure from A, B evolves. The resulting changes to B then put evolutionary pressure on A, and so on.

Predators generally catch and eat prey that is slower, weaker, more visible, etc. Therefore, the faster, stronger, and more camouflaged prey animals tend to survive longer than the others, thereby passing their traits to more offspring. In this way, the prey animals evolve toward being more successful at evading capture. At the same time, the predators also evolve, becoming faster, stronger, and perhaps developing keener senses of detection. The evolution of the prey drives the evolution of the predator, while the evolution of the predator drives that of the prey. Such is an example of coevolution.

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