What is an arms race in biology?
What is an arms race in biology?
In evolutionary biology, an evolutionary arms race is a struggle between competing sets of co-evolving genes, traits, or species, that develop adaptations and counter-adaptations against each other, resembling an arms race. These are often described as examples of positive feedback.
What is an example of an evolutionary arms race?
One particular example of this is the arms race between bats and moths. The interaction between bats and their insect prey, in particular moths, is one of the most cited examples of such an evolutionary arms race. It comes with a twist – the weaponry used by each is largely based on sound and hearing.
What is a coevolutionary arms race between a parasite and its host?
Implicit in most models of host–parasite coevolution is the idea that host characteristics providing defense against parasitism are adaptive and evolve under parasite-mediated selection, and infection parasite traits, in turn, evolve as a response to the host defensive traits evolved by host populations.
Can arms races occur within a species?
An adaptation in one lineage (e. g. predators) may change the selection pressure on another lineage (e. g. prey), giving rise to a counter-adaptation. If this occurs reciprocally, an unstable runaway escalation or ‘arms race’ may result.
What is a coevolutionary arms race quizlet?
What is a coevolutionary arms race? A repeating cycle of reciprocal adaptation. It occurs when predators and prey or herbivores and plants interact over time.
Why is coevolution an arms race?
Predator/prey coevolution can lead to an evolutionary arms race. Consider a system of plant-eating insects. This, in turn, puts more pressure on the insect population…and so on. The levels of defense and counter-defense will continue to escalate, without either side “winning.” Hence, it is called an arms race.
What type of coevolution produces an evolutionary arms race?
Natural selection will favor traits in prey that increase the chance of escaping predation and traits in predators that increase their chance of capturing and killing prey, resulting in an evolutionary arms race.
How is parasitism like an arms race?
Common parasites and their hosts are thought to be engaged in co-evolutionary arms races, wherein adaptations by parasites to better infect host species and extract host resources are countered by host adaptations like resistance and tolerance to reduce the occurrence and costs of parasitism.
Which of the following interactions is most likely to result in a coevolutionary arms race?
The conspicuous exceptions—and the types of interactions most likely to result in a coevolutionary arms race—are systems in which predators interact with dangerous prey.
What is a coevolutionary arms race RQ?
Why might some examples of coevolution be described as evolutionary arms races?
These close mutual adaptations are described as evolutionary arms race because any adaptation of the partner causes co- adaptation of the other. The video demonstrates the result of coevolution – specific adaptations of the parasites as well as adaptive responses of the hosts to fend them off.
What is the predator/prey arms race?
The mutual evolution of predator and prey has often been conceived of as an arms race. An increase in the armaments of one contestant in the race simply causes the other contestant to increase armaments in response.