Bumblebees and the flowers they pollinate co-evolve so that the flower is dependent on the bee and the bee is dependent on the flower for survival

In Biology, Co-evolution is the mutual evolutionary influence between two species that become dependent on each other. Each party in a co-evolutionary relationship exerts selective pressures on the other, thereby affecting each others' evolution. Coevolution is an extreme example of mutualism. Bumblebee on Joe Pye Image copyleft: Image taken by me, released under GFDL Pollinator 03:31, Nov 9, 2004 (UTC) ( ) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Bumblebee on Joe Pye Image copyleft: Image taken by me, released under GFDL Pollinator 03:31, Nov 9, 2004 (UTC) ( ) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Species see text A bumblebee in flight The bumblebee is a flying insect of the genus Bombus in the family Apidae. ... Wildflowers A flower is the reproductive organ of those plants classified as angiosperms ( flowering plants; Division Magnoliophyta). ... Pollination is an important step in the reproduction of seed plants: the transfer of pollen grains (male gametes) to the plant carpel, the structure that contains the ovule (female gamete). ... Charles Darwin, the father of modern evolutionary theory In the life sciences, evolution is a change in the traits of living organisms over generations, including the emergence of new species. ... In biology, a species is a kind of organism. ... For computer science algorithms that find the kth smallest number in a list, see selection algorithm. ... Mutualism is also the form of Anarchism described by Pierre-Joseph Proudhon . In biology, mutualism is an interaction between two species in which both organisms derive some degree of benefit. ...

Examples include pollination of orchids by hummingbirds. These species co-evolve because the birds are dependent on the flowers for nectar and the flowers are dependent on the birds to spread their pollen so they can reproduce. The evolutionary process has led to long-billed birds and deep flowers. Pollination is an important step in the reproduction of seed plants: the transfer of pollen grains (male gametes) to the plant carpel, the structure that contains the ovule (female gamete). ... Orchid re-directs here; for alternate uses see Orchid (disambiguation) Genera Over 800 See List of Orchidaceae genera. ... For the Australian jangle pop band, see The Hummingbirds. ... In Greek mythology, nectar and ambrosia are the food of the gods. ... SEM image of pollen grains from a variety of common plants: sunflower (Helianthus annuus), morning glory (Ipomea purpurea),hollyhock (Sildalcea malviflora), lily (Lilium auratum), primrose(Oenothera fruticosa), and castor bean (Ricinus communis). ... Reproduction is perhaps most commonly used in the context of biological reproduction and sex: Sexual reproduction is a biological process by which organisms create descendants through the combination of genetic material. ...

Co-evolution also occurs between predator and prey species (see Red Queen). This snapping turtle is trying to make a meal of a Canada goose, but the goose is too wary. ... The word Prey can refer to several things: In biology, the term prey refers to an animal that is sought, captured, and eaten by a predator in an act called predation. ... The Red Queen or Red Queens Race is an evolutionary theory explaining the advantage of sex. ...

Co-evolution is also used to refer to evolutionary interactions between and even within molecules in the field of molecular evolution (for example, between hormones and receptors). This usage has existed at least since the term "molecular coevolution" was coined by G. Dover in 1984. Molecular evolution is the process of the genetic material in populations of organisms changing over time. ...

Co-evolution is one of the techniques used for generating artificial life. Bodies (bars and actuators) are evolved together with neurons in a simulated environment. Artificial life, also known as alife or a-life, is the study of life through the use of human-made analogs of living systems. ...

In his book The Self-organizing Universe, Erich Jantsch attributed the entire evolution of the cosmos to co-evolution. Erich Jantsch was an Austrian astronomer who wrote the book The Self-organizing Universe: Scientific and Human Implications of the Emerging Paradigm of Evolution, which was published in 1980. ...

External link

• Wiki discussing co-evolution terminology (http://www2.demo.cs.brandeis.edu/cgi-bin/coec-wiki?HomePage)

Bibliography

• Michael Pollan The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-eye View of the World Bloomsbury ISBN 0747563004 Account of the co-evolution of plants and humans