Biological coevolution is a reciprocal evolutionary process in which two or more species exert selective pressures on each other, leading to genetically correlated changes in their traits over time. This process can occur in diverse interaction types, including antagonistic (e.g., host–parasite, predator–prey) and mutualistic (e.g., pollinator–plant, symbiont–host) relationships. Coevolution involves feedback loops where adaptive changes in one lineage alter the fitness landscape of its partner(s), often generating evolutionary arms races, trait matching, or specialization. It is typically studied using comparative phylogenetics, quantitative genetics, and empirical experiments to test for correlated trait evolution and specificity of interaction.
African cuckoo finches (Anomalospiza imberbis) are very deceptive birds, or at least the mothers are. They sneak into the nests of other birds, such as prinias and cisticolas, to lay their eggs, then slip away and leave the ...
There are an estimated 10 quintillion insects alive on Earth at any given time. That's 10,000,000,000,000,000,000 individual insects. But how many species are there, why do we need them, and what would happen if their numbers ...
Plants & Animals
Oct 21, 2026
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Many animal species, ranging from peacocks and birds of paradise to some lizards, fish and beetles, display physical features or ornaments that can attract potential mates. These ornaments can include colorful plumage, elaborate ...
We call them "man's best friend," and the evidence supports it. Dogs have been found buried alongside humans in graves dating back 14,000 years. They appear in ancient art from every continent, and they feature in the mythology, ...
Evolution
Aug 9, 2026
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96
Some insects and microbes develop symbiotic partnerships that become so interdependent they can no longer survive without each other. But how specific are these heritable symbioses? Is it possible for the same species of ...
Ecology
Jun 23, 2026
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9
An international team of researchers have published a new review in Animal Behavior revealing how communication enables cooperation between different animal species. The review, titled "The ecology and evolution of cues and ...
Plants & Animals
Jun 19, 2026
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311
Can a snake in Thailand influence the evolution of a snake in the Philippines even if the two species never cross paths? According to a new study, the answer may be yes. The research suggests that migratory predators can ...
Evolution
Jun 15, 2026
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A species of moth that was first described in 1818 was believed to be a single species. However, it has since been discovered that it is actually a complex of species, eight of which are found in Brazil. These findings are ...
Plants & Animals
Jun 3, 2026
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9
For decades, scientists have sought to explain the so-called "Cambrian Explosion," a pivotal period over 500 million years ago when a remarkable diversity of animal life appeared in the fossil record. But rather than a sudden ...
Evolution
May 5, 2026
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69
An international team of ornithologists has overturned one of the oldest assumptions in natural history by directly documenting how common cuckoos lay their eggs in host nests located inside cavities. The findings, published ...
Plants & Animals
Apr 22, 2026
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