co-adaptation
Reciprocal evolutionary change
Co-adaptation is the process by which two or more species, or parts of the same organism, evolve in response to each other.
Flowers and their pollinators co-adapt: the flower's shape suits the bee's body, while the bee develops traits suited to that flower.
The term also applies within organisms, where different genes or structures evolve together to function as an integrated system.
Reciprocal adaptation between interacting species
- natural selectionDifferential reproductive success
- genetic driftRandom allele frequency change
- speciationFormation of distinct species
- phylogenyEvolutionary relationships among organisms
selection pressure · genotype · phenotype · mutation · heritability · reproductive success · Red Queen hypothesis
Two-way biological benefit
- commensalismNeutral host, benefiting guest
- parasitismOne benefits, one suffers
- pollinationFlower reproductive transfer
- gut floraIntestinal microbial community
anemonefish · obligate · facultative · lichen · coral · nitrogen fixation · interdependence · microbiome
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- interspeciesBetween different species
- predator-preyEcological consumption relationship
- competitionStruggle for supremacy
coexistence · keystone species · endemic · invasive species · food web · facilitation
coevolution
Reciprocal adaptation between interacting species
- natural selectionDifferential reproductive success
- genetic driftRandom allele frequency change
- speciationFormation of distinct species
phylogeny · selection pressure · genotype · phenotype · mutation · heritability · reproductive success · Red Queen hypothesis
mutualism
Two-way biological benefit
- commensalismNeutral host, benefiting guest
- parasitismOne benefits, one suffers
- pollinationFlower reproductive transfer
gut flora · anemonefish · obligate · facultative · lichen · coral · nitrogen fixation · interdependence · microbiome
ecosystem
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- interspeciesBetween different species
- predator-preyEcological consumption relationship
competition · coexistence · keystone species · endemic · invasive species · food web · facilitation
adapt, adaptation, adaptable, adapted, adapting, adapts, adaptive, adapter, adapters