coevolution
UK[ˌkəʊiːvəˈluːʃn]US[ˌkoʊˌɛvəˈluʃən]
n
The process by which two or more species evolve in response to each other, each exerting selective pressure on the other.
Morpheme Breakdown
co
evolution
co
together
evolution
development
Etymology
The term 'coevolution' is a modern scientific compound, formed in the mid-20th century. It combines the Latin-derived prefix 'co-', signifying joint action, with the noun 'evolution', which itself originates from the Latin 'evolutio' (an unrolling or opening of a book). The logic of the word is elegantly direct: it describes the intertwined, simultaneous 'unrolling' or development of two or more species. This concept extends the biological theory of evolution by emphasizing the mutual and reciprocal nature of the adaptive changes driven by species interactions, such as between predators and prey or flowers and their pollinators.
Analysis
Structure: co (together) + evolution (development)
- co: A prefix of Latin origin (from 'com-'), meaning "together, with, jointly."
- evolution: A noun of Latin origin (from 'evolutio', meaning "unrolling"), referring to the process of developing or changing gradually.
Examples
The coevolution of flowering plants and pollinating insects is a classic example of mutualistic adaptation.
Researchers studied the coevolution between a species of butterfly and its host plant.
An arms race of adaptations is often a result of coevolution between parasites and their hosts.