What is Bio 101

Biologists over the years have observed that some species evolve in response to the changes in another. These changes can occur in different levels and in different intensities. Some species exhibit molecular changes such as the structures of macromolecules like proteins or lipids, while others show morphological and behavioural changes in the presence of other organisms. Some evolutionary changes that happen in a species can be a change that is most especially directed towards its adaptation in its relationship with another organism. This evolution that happens in response to the changes in the biotic factors of the ecosystem is called co-evolution. The habits or changes in one organism in an ecological relationship create a pressure that drives changes to another. Therefore, evolutionary changes in organisms due to changes in temperature, water and other abiotic factors are not co-evolution, even if changes happen simultaneously in organisms that are in a specific ecological relationship.

Easily observable co-evolution occurs in the level of two species interacting, but co-evolution can also be driven by a number of species interacting with each other. Co-evolutionary changes may affect interactions positively or negatively, depending on the type of relationship that drove it in the first place. For example, if co-evolution is to happen between two species of mutualistic organisms, an organism's evolution may be a response to the change that occurred in one of the interacting species to keep the mutualistic relationship running, which affects the relationship in a positive way. Co-evolutionary changes that happen in the prey which hamper the predator from successfully capturing the prey affect the predatory relationship negatively because they reduces the chances of the predatory relationship from continuing.

However, it is important to remember that the changes that are pertained to are genetic changes, the ones that can be passed on from generation to