coevolve

Coevolve is a verb used to describe the process by which two or more species reciprocally influence each other’s evolution over time. In biology, coevolution occurs when changes in one lineage modify the selective environment for another, prompting counteradaptations that feed back to the original species.

Coevolution arises from ecological interactions, including antagonistic relationships such as predator–prey and host–parasite systems, and mutualistic associations such as pollinators and flowering plants or fruit dispersers and plants. Classic examples include the arms race between predators and prey, as well as the evolution of prey defenses against toxins, and the enduring relationships between flowering plants and their pollinators or seed dispersers.

Mechanisms of coevolution include reciprocal selection pressures, genetic variation and mutation, and mechanisms such as gene-for-gene interactions. Coevolution can produce rapid changes or proceed over longer timescales and may lead to escalation of defenses and counterdefenses, local adaptation, or cospeciation. Evidence comes from comparative phylogenies, experimental evolution, and studies of population genetics.

Beyond biology, the term coevolve is used to describe mutual development in other domains, such as cultural, technological, or sociopolitical systems, where entities influence each other’s trajectories. In evolutionary biology, the related concept of gene-culture coevolution highlights how cultural practices can shape genetic evolution and vice versa. When observed in nature, coevolution often yields tightly linked lineages and interdependent traits.