The evolution of coevolution in the study of species interactions

Abstract

The study of reciprocal adaptation in interacting species has been an active and inspiring area of evolutionary research for nearly 60 years. Perhaps owing to its great natural history and potential consequences spanning population divergence to species diversification, coevolution continues to capture the imagination of biologists. Here we trace developments following Ehrlich and Raven's classic paper, with a particular focus on the modern influence of two studies by Dr. May Berenbaum in the 1980s. This series of classic work presented a compelling example exhibiting the macroevolutionary patterns predicted by Ehrlich and Raven and also formalized a microevolutionary approach to measuring selection, functional traits, and understanding reciprocal adaptation between plants and their herbivores. Following this breakthrough was a wave of research focusing on diversifying macroevolutionary patterns, mechanistic chemical ecology, and natural selection on populations within and across community types. Accordingly, we breakdown coevolutionary theory into specific hypotheses at different scales: reciprocal adaptation between populations within a community, differential coevolution among communities, lineage divergence, and phylogenetic patterns. We highlight progress as well as persistent gaps, especially the link between reciprocal adaptation and diversification.

Promising Insecticidal Efficiency of Essential Oils Isolated from Four Cultivated Eucalyptus Species in Iran against the Lesser Grain Borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.)

“…Essential oils have developed as secondary metabolites in plants against herbivores, and plant-herbivore coevolution continues [ 65 ]. Faced with complex mixtures of constituents in essential oils, diverse mechanisms correspondingly evolve in insect pests to overcome such secondary metabolites [ 66 ]. An increase in the levels of detoxifying enzymes is one of the key mechanisms for developing insect resistance to insecticidal agents [ 67 ].…”

Ehrlich and Raven escape and radiate coevolution hypothesis at different levels of organization: Past and future perspectives

“…Many recent reviews addressed the ideas of coevolution and coevolutionary diversification in insect‐plant interactions (Rausher 2001; Thompson 2005; Agrawal 2007; Janz 2011; Althoff et al. 2014; Suchan and Alvarez 2015; Agrawal and Zhang 2021). During the 1960s and 1970s, the word coevolution was used in an overly broad sense, meaning the adaptation of one species to the traits of the species with which it interacts.…”

“…Ehrlich and Raven's scenario was intended to explain the diversity of plants and herbivores by the process of increased cladogenesis in enemy-free space for plants and competitor-free space for herbivores. Many recent reviews addressed the ideas of coevolution and coevolutionary diversification in insect-plant interactions (Rausher 2001;Thompson 2005;Agrawal 2007;Janz 2011;Althoff et al 2014;Suchan and Alvarez 2015;Agrawal and Zhang 2021). During the 1960s and 1970s, the word coevolution was used in an overly broad sense, meaning the adaptation of one species to the traits of the species with which it interacts.…”

A model of coevolution and local adaptation between hosts and parasites in continuous space

“…Interactions between hosts and parasites have shaped patterns of diversity across all scales of biological organization. For example, coevolution with parasites can alter epidemiological dynamics (Best et al 2010; Débarre et al 2012; Lion and Gandon 2015), promote the evolution of sexual reproduction (Otto and Nuismer 2004; Lively 2010), yield novel mutualisms (Yamamura 1993), and influence patterns of speciation across a broad range of taxa (Agrawal and Zhang 2021). In each of these examples, the geography of the interspecific interactions plays a critical role in determining ecological and evolutionary outcomes.…”